Showdown Between BLM & Carson City Community: Feds Set Trap to Capture Beloved Herd of Wild Horses

Showdown Between BLM & Carson City Community

Carson City, Nevada – February 27, 2013 – Today, ignoring the wishes of the local community, including a mayor, county supervisor, and State Senator, theBLMhas moved ahead with its plan to capture a small herd of cherished wild horses near Carson City, Nevada.

The photo below is of the trap site theBLMset up this morning to capture the horses. In proceeding with the capture, theBLMrejected offers from the local community to work with the agency on a plan to keep the horses, who have lived in the area for decades, safe and on their designated range in the Pine Nut Mountains Herd Management Area (HMA).

Local residents are onsite and providing updates to American Wild Horse Conservation as this situation develops.

Meanwhile, over 3,500 citizens from across the nation have faxed and emailedBLMmanagers in Washington and Nevada, calling on the agency to reverse course and work with the community on a solution to protect the horses and keep them wild and free.

To justify the removal, theBLMhas changed its story numerous times. The agency is now claiming that public safety issues on Deer Run Road, which runs through the HMA, is a motivating factor for the removals. However, the government has rejected offers from the community to work on speed limit reductions, educational outreach, fencing, signage, and other measures to address this and other public safety concerns.

Further details about this situation are availablehere.

Photos of this small wild horse band courtesy of Cat Kindsfather