STOP WILD HORSE ROUND-UPs IN CALIFORNIA
Your voice & support is urgently needed to help America’s wild horses
On Wednesday, August 11th in Lassen County, California herds of wild horses were rounded up as ordered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which once established their protection back in 1971 through the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act. This Act originally protected them from capture, branding, harassment and death. Today, the very organization that sought out to protect these majestic beings on our land, is now putting their lives in jeopardy in order to grant cattle ranchers more grazing land for their herds.
It is estimated that there are less than 30,000 wild horses and burros throughout 10 western states. In all, over 2,000 horses will be removed by helicopter stampede from the northern region of California, a process which endangers the lives of these horses as they are forced to stampede over rocky terrains and cliffs causing injury and death. The last round-up in Nevada in July resulted in 34 deaths and multiple injuries. Once captured the horses are transported to a government holding facility where they will join an estimated 35,000 wild horses already in captivity (more than what is estimated to be in the wild). From there, their fate is unknown as they await adoption or remain in captivity for life.
Despite the efforts of 54 members of Congress to halt this unnecessary round-up, a court ruling denied the motion on Tuesday, August 10th. Round-ups then began the following day in northern California where 130 horses have already been captured and will continue for up to six weeks. The Sonoma Humane Society believes this form of population management is outdated and unjustified and is calling for the government to put a halt on the capture of these animals until a new humane and sustainable plan is finalized. The BLM is accepting public comments on its latest plan through September 3. The Sonoma Humane Society urges concerned citizens to submit their comments and letters through the BLM website at:
https://www.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/comments/commentSubmission.do?commentPeriodId=10904
OR Email comments to: wildhorse@blm.gov
Snail-mail to: BLM Washington Office, 1849 C Street NW, Room 5665, Washington, DC 21240
