BLM Steps up Campaign to Eradicate Wild Horses

February 24, 2006

Dear Humanitarian:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues its campaign to eradicate America's wild horse by partnering with the very associations whose goals have been to rid this country of these national treasures.  A recent press release by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) touts an agreement with the BLM and Public Lands Council (PLC) in which cattle ranchers currently holding federal grazing permits will be allowed to buy an unlimited number of wild horses for as little at $10 each.  Aside from the obvious concerns, the NCBA and PLC have been leading opponents to the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.  Now the BLM will be handing over thousands of wild horses to the individuals fighting to keep horse slaughter alive in the United States.

This latest scheme, added to what has been the worst period suffered by wild horses since the enactment of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act in 1971, may be the final blow to the future of the wild horses throughout our western public lands unless the American people stand up and demand change.

The 1971 Act was implemented specifically to protect wild horses from wholesale extermination efforts by the BLM and ranchers grazing their private livestock on public lands.  In an effort to grab total control over public lands, the BLM and ranchers orchestrated massive round-ups of wild horses who were subsequently sent to slaughter.  Sadly, the BLM was given the job of protecting the very animals they had worked so hard to remove for so many years – a recipe for disaster.

Today, the same two parties are again working to remove wild horses from our public lands.  Unless action is taken immediately, the fate of these majestic wild horses will be the same as it was in 1971 – slaughter.  To make matters worse, not only are wild horses being removed from public lands to placate the demands of ranchers, but according to a recent study by the Government Accounting Office, public lands grazing by these same ranchers are costing tax payers over $300 million each year.  Amazingly, less than 3 percent of all beef produced in the United States comes from Western public lands – hardly justification for such an enormous taxpayer subsidy and one that is sealing the fate of our nation’s wild horses.

What you can do:

The only thing that saved wild horses from extinction back in 1971 was public outrage and demand for action.  Thirty-four years later, we must again demand the protection of wild horses before it is too late.  It is vital that everyone contact Secretary Norton and Director Clarke immediately, requesting that the BLM stop its plan to sell wild horses to livestock ranchers.

For more background and facts to include in your correspondence on the wild horse issue, please visit SAPL's wild horse and burro page:  http://www.saplonline.org/w_horses.htm

Please share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact everyone listed above, too.  As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
Legislative Director