Many of you still remember last year’s disastrous round-up from the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada, during which foals were trampled or left behind to die. Determined to make good on its plan to eradicate wild horses from the Refuge, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is planning yet another round-up this year.
The stated reason for the removal is to enhance the populations of pronghorn antelope and sage grouse, two species that bring in revenue from hunting permits. FWS’ long-term plan is to leave as few as 75 horses (down from 1,500) on the Refuge’s half a million acres, or less than one horse per 6,500 acres! This target number is based on 30-year old data gathered at a time when livestock grazing was prevalent on the Refuge, and despite a 1980 Environmental Impact Statement that had determined that forage allocations could easily support a herd of 400-600 wild horses and 60-100 burros with no threat to wildlife.
Last year, FWS only allowed “mass adoptions” of the captured horses, paying three adopting agents $300 per horse (our tax-dollars!) to take them by the truckload. Just this past winter, several Sheldon horses had to be seized from their adopters by the Canadian police due to neglect. As Canada is a horse-slaughter hub, the mere fact that these horses were allowed to be sent across the border in the first place is cause for grave concern.
Please write the Fish & Wildlife Service to protest this disturbing plan and such a gross misuse of our tax-dollars. If you live locally, please also attend the meeting to be held this Saturday, May 5, at 7:00 pm in the Daly Middle School Auditorium, 220 South H Street, Lakeview, Oregon 97630. A strong show of public support is critical.
Specifically, the following issues should be raised:
- These horses have historical and cultural significance to the American public and should be preserved in genetically viable herds.
- The argument that the horses are non-native is not only inaccurate, but also disingenuous, given that FWS manages for pheasants and chukers, two truly non-native species.
- If any capture is to take place, it should be done on horseback. Limits need to be set on distances over which horses may be chased. To avoid a repeat of last year’s carnage, no capture should take place at any time during foaling season.
- Accountability and penalties must be established for round-up contractors and adoption agents who violate humane handling procedures and slaughter sales.
The public meeting regarding management of the Sheldon wild horses will not be taking place this Saturday, as previously announced, but this Tuesday, May 8, at 7:00 pm in the Daly Middle School Auditorium, 220 South H Street, Lakeview, Oregon 97630. Please attend if you can. A strong show of public support is critical.
Written comments to the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) are still due on May 17. For those wishing to submit in-depth comments, a detailed rebuttal of the EA will be made available on this page shortly: http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/news_alerts.html
Please also write your Members of Congress to denounce the Fish & Wildlife Service plan for wild horses on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. Visit www.congress.org and enter your zip code to locate your US Representative and two US Senators.
A copy of the draft Environmental Assessment can be found here: http://www.fws.gov/sheldonhartmtn/sheldon/EA/Sheldon_Horse_EA..pdf.
For a report on last year’s disastrous round-up, visit http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/sheldon.html (Caution: graphic content) Please note that, despite overwhelming evidence, including incriminating veterinary reports and eye-witnesses, Sheldon officials have repeatedly attempted to discredit this report, systematically misinforming the very public they are supposed to serve.
On behalf of the horses, thank you for your support.
