Report: October 2017 BLM Advisory Board Meeting
BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting
October 17-18, 2017
Grand Junction, Colorado
The BLM National Wild Horse Advisory Board convened last week for the first time since recommending the lethal removal of wild horses and burros from holding facilities. The Advisory Board reiterated its controversial stance, proposing further measures that could result in the destruction of thousands of these animals.
Key Recommendations:
- Phasing out long-term holding pastures over three years, reallocating funds to on-range management and adoptions, potentially leading to the destruction of 32,146 horses.
- Achieving Appropriate Management Level (AML) within three years by removing excess animals, possibly resulting in the mass killing or slaughter of up to 46,000 wild horses and burros.
Board members appeared to prioritize livestock grazing over fertility control and other humane management measures. Only $3 million of the $20 million saved from phasing out long-term holding was allocated to fertility control, with the remainder earmarked for roundups and range restoration projects to benefit livestock grazing.
The Board also discussed increasing funds for adoptions and sales, including international sales, with a proposal from Russia to purchase horses for a big cat re-wildling project.
Another significant recommendation was to hold the next meeting in Washington, DC, between January and March 2018, to present their plan to Congress and the Interior Department.
Despite the BLM's previous rejection of the Advisory Board's lethal recommendations, BLM Assistant Director Kristin Ball stated that the agency would not comment on these recommendations at this meeting. Instead, the focus was on gathering ideas for a humane and sustainable management plan to present to Congress.
The meeting echoed the sentiments of the Slaughter Summit held in Salt Lake City in August, with discussions on the negative environmental impacts of wild horses, labeled as "feral," without acknowledging the extensive damage caused by livestock grazing.
Our coalition partner, Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation, stood as the sole voice representing the American public's opposition to the killing and slaughter of wild horses and burros.
The addition of Jim French to the Advisory Board, representing natural resource management, was noteworthy. Although he supported the pro-killing stance, he appeared more open to humane management options and collaboration with community partners.
Highlights of the Meeting
The Colorado wild horse advocates made a significant impact with their presentation to the Board, marking the first pro-wild horse presentation in eight years of these meetings.
Mustang advocate TJ Holmes shared her successful PZP fertility control program for the Spring Creek Basin wild horses, which has eliminated helicopter roundups and maintained population control without removals.
Stella Trueblood of the Sand Wash Advocate Team (SWAT) and Michelle Sander of the Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary (GEMS) also presented their work in managing the Sand Wash Basin HMA, focusing on fertility control and sanctuary for removed horses.
Lowlights
Utah State University professor Terry Messner's presentation stood out for its misrepresentation of the Slaughter Summit's participant makeup, falsely claiming that wild horse advocates were invited.
Messner's survey results from the summit participants unsurprisingly supported lethal measures, including "commercial processing" of wild horses for zoo animals and food for starving populations, revealing a lack of understanding of global hunger solutions.
Upon questioning, Messner admitted that the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources initiated the summit, highlighting potential government bias and exclusion of opposing viewpoints.
Significant Information Presented at the Meeting
Mary Jo Rugwell, BLM Wyoming State Director, outlined the BLM's focus areas for its report to Congress on sustainable wild horse management, seeking feedback on achieving AML, maintaining AML sustainably, reducing holding costs, increasing adoptions, ensuring humane treatment, using science for management, exploring humanitarian assistance, improving public information, and increasing public participation and support.
BLM officials Dean Bolstad and Allen Shepherd presented program statistics, including national AML numbers, animals on the range, adoption and removal figures, and budget expenditures.
Parting Thoughts
Despite the frustration of witnessing the Advisory Board's bias and ineptitude, we must remember that the American public supports the humane management of wild horses. Congress has the final say, and we have a chance to oppose the BLM's lethal plans. It's time for effective management that aligns with public expectations and Congressional intent to protect these iconic animals.
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