Death toll at Tuscarora wild horse helicopter roundup spikes to 12

Cross-posted from the Equine Advocacy Examiner

Written by MAUREEN HARMONAY

The BLM’s Tuscarora Gather may be temporarily suspended, but the number of deaths from Saturday morning’s roundup in northern Elko County, Nevada, has spiked to 12 since yesterday’s initial report. More than 5% of the 228 horses stampeded over miles of unforgiving terrain and relentless heat have perished as a direct result of the helicopter chase, and their faces are now coming into view.

A quarter of the horses who died or were “euthanized” were foals five months or younger, including three colts between the ages of two and five months old. Four of the dead were relatively young mares, including a five-year-old mare who “was euthanized shortly after being gathered due to a fractured leg that occurred in the temporary holding corrals.”

Lest anyone envision that this mare was gently put to sleep by a veterinarian who administered a lethal dose of barbituates, the reality is more stark. As reported by the AP’s Sandra Chereb, this unfortunate and terrified mare was “shot and killed.” What we don’t know is whether any of the mares who didn’t make it left suckling foals behind. Read full report >>

BLM suspends NV horse gather after 7 die

The Owyhee River Canyon. This is the type of terrain the BLM are forcing Mustangs and their young offspring to run over at high speeds in extreme heat while being pursued by helicopters in its most recent Elko District roundup that was called off today after 7 died. (BLM Image)

CARSON CITY, Nev. — (Jul. 12, 2010) The U.S. Bureau of Land Management suspended a wild horse roundup in northeast Nevada on Monday after seven animals died of dehydration and another was shot when it broke its his leg in a holding pen.

Animal rights activists were outraged, saying the outcome was predicable given the sweltering temperatures and helicopters used to gather the animals.

The BLM said the animals appeared in otherwise good shape when two groups were herded by helicopter to holding pens in northern Elko County on Saturday. But the roundup was halted Sunday morning after four horses were found dead in the pens and others showed signs of colic and brain swelling.

In all, seven died of what the BLM called dehydration and complications from “water intoxication” that can occur when dehydrated animals drink excessive amounts of water. The condition causes colic and brain swelling, the BLM said.

BLM Director Bob Abbey said the agency was committed to treating the animals humanely and that the roundup was suspended so “options for minimizing mortality of horses weakened by dehydration can be assessed.”

Ginger Kathrens, executive director of The Cloud Foundation, a Colorado-based wild horse advocacy group, called the BLM’s actions “disgusting.”

The horses “were run over volcanic rock by helicopter for mile after mile,” she told The Associated Press.

“We’re talking about the hottest time of the year, the hottest month of the year. I’m not one bit surprised to hear that seven horses have died of dehydration. It’s what we’ve warned.” Read full report >>

Written by SANDRA CHEREB for the Associated Press
—-

>> See also BLM Press Release

Mustang Monday: February 22, 2010

We appreciate everyone is busy, and it is Monday. However, . . . .

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is asking for more money, millions of your taxpayer dollars, from the Appropriations Cmte this Wednesday, to continue paying for the atrocities the BLM are committing unchecked against our wild horses and burros. You know the tragic details by now.

We are asking this from you today.

Find who your two U.S. Senators are and bookmark the contact pages. Check to and see if either of them are Members of the Appropriations Committee.

If they are, please send them a message (phone call, email or fax) stating that you are strongly opposed to using taxpayer dollars for the massive roundups of our wild horses and burros.

State “Interior Secretary Salazar is asking for more funding for the cruel, dysfunctional and in some cases illegal activities carried out by the BLM in connection with the Wild Horse & Burro Program. I ask as a constituent and as my voice on the Appropriations Committee to deny Salazar’s request. I do not want my tax dollars spent destroying our wild horses and burros. I further ask that you call for an immediate halt to any further wild horse and burro roundups pending a full investigation into BLM activities in the management of the Wild Horse & Burro Program. I would appreciate a response from you to this message. Thank you.”

Send the message below to your other U.S. Senator who is not on the Committee.

Now, if they are not on the Appropriations Committee, please send this message to your two U.S. Senators.

State “Interior Secretary Salazar is asking for more funding for the cruel, dysfunctional and in some cases illegal activities carried out by the BLM in connection with the Wild Horse & Burro Program. I do not want my tax dollars spent destroying our wild horses and burros and ask you to deny this funding. I further ask that you push for an immediate halt to any further wild horse and burro roundups pending a full investigation into BLM activities in the management of the Wild Horse & Burro Program. I would appreciate a response from you to this message. Thank you.”

Please contact the White House by phone, fax or email, and tell the President you have contacted the Senate on the wild horse and burro issue, and repeat the message above.

White House Phone: 202 456 1111
White House Fax: 202 456 2461
Email the White House

Feel free, of course, to tailor the sample script we have given. We encourage you to! Thank you so much.

Please forward this message to everyone you know who cares about America’s wild horses and burros, and how their tax dollars are spent. This should be everyone!

Carol Poole
Wild Horse & Burro Advocacy Team