Does This Mean They Were Lying Before?

BLM Admits Helicopter Stampede Caused Wild Horse Deaths, Refuses Outside Observers in Nevada Census | Horse Back Magazine

BLM Admits Helicopter Stampede Caused Wild Horse Deaths, Refuses Outside Observers in Nevada Census

June 30, 2010

By Steven Long

HOUSTON, (Horseback) – The federal Bureau of Land Management, under siege by press and public for it’s handling of offshore drilling, again has proven it is an agency with a tin ear when it comes to public relations.

With 150 horses and foals now dead in the wake of the most deadly “gather” in BLM history, the agency continues with an apparent government cover-up of the number of horses remaining in Nevada’s remote Calico Mountains.

The BLM refused to allow outside observers on an equine census of the area in late June, according to national spokesman Tom Gorey. It even covered up the fact that a census was being taken at all until after the fact, despite pleas from wild horse activists to be allowed to go along on census flights as independent observers.

Last week, in a detailed report of an independent fly-over of the Calico “gather” area acclaimed naturalist Craig Downer saw only sparse evidence of any remaining horses on hundreds of thousands of acres of BLM land. He also recorded thousands of cattle.



“The Calico Complex aerial census was completed Sunday and we expect to issue a news release on the results shortly (within the next day or so),” Gorey said. “No third parties/independent observers were allowed to ride in the aircraft conducting the survey.”

Gorey cited existing BLM policy for the agency refusal to allow outside observers on the observation flights.

“This is in accordance with existing BLM policy and is done for reasons of safety and liability. Additionally, observers must be trained. Accuracy of the counts strongly depends on the skill of the observer and is affected by the ruggedness of the terrain and the presence of vegetation cover.”

Downer has spent decades observing wild horse in their natural habitat, both from the air, and from the ground.

BLM personnel have a long history of mathematical errors in their reports as cited in several Horseback stories last year.

Ironically, other government agencies routinely allow the press and other observers on flights, including in war zones where the media is often imbedded with soldiers, sailors, marines, and airborne troops in combat. The independent observers are acknowledged to deliver accurate reports, even in the stressful environment of war with little or no training before an engagement.

Gorey acknowledged a large number of deaths came from horses trying to escape a roaring helicopter chase by a Utah contractor hired by the BLM.

“Yes, the BLM acknowledges that at gathers some fatalities directly result from the horses being driven by the helicopter,” Gorey said. “The direct mortality rate resulting from helicopter-driven gathers is usually less than one percent.”

The BLM declines to acknowledge what is a statistically acceptable death rate on its roundups of wild horses. The Calico roundup took place in the dead of winter in rocky mountainous terrain where horses were run over miles and miles of rugged wilderness.

Gorey detailed the carnage.

“Seven died or were euthanized at the gather site; 101 have died or were euthanized at the Fallon facility. The BLM does not keep a count of miscarriages, but we did note in the daily reports those miscarriages that we observed.”

Two foals died after their hooves were run off as they tried to escape the roaring helicopter.

“Two foals died as you described,” Gorey said, “No other horses died of hoof abscesses.”

In the Calico “gather,” something went dreadfully wrong.

“In 2009, the number of direct fatalities (out of more than 7,500 horses gathered) was 0.53 percent,” Gorey said. “Some indirect mortality also occurs, usually associated with older horses in poor to very poor condition when gathered. These already weakened horses, many of which would likely die on the range if not gathered, are examined by staff professionals and veterinarians and are euthanized if they are unlikely to improve or do not respond to treatment.”

The government spokesman painted a benign word portrait of humane euthanasia of geriatric horses. Yet the BLM reports published on the Internet records what amounts to wholesale slaughter of wild horses from Calico in which some were routinely put down by government vets, one of whom was unlicensed to practice in Nevada.

               

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Ask Congress To Force BLM To Allow Public Observation Of Wild Horse Program

In Defense of Animals:

Ask Congress To Force BLM To Allow Public Observation Of Wild Horse Program

In the face of public and Congressional outrage over the roundup of nearly 2,000 wild horses from Nevada’s Calico Mountains region, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced plans to control and minimize criticism by further restricting public viewing of its operations to a small group of cherry-picked organizations and individuals for limited viewing. The agency is ramping up its capture plans, with over 5,000 more wild horses targeted for roundup and removal over the next four months.

By its own admission, BLM’s crackdown on public observation of its roundup activities and wild horse holding facilities is designed to control images released on blogs, YouTube and other social media, thereby quashing escalating public opposition to the agency’s handling of America’s treasured mustangs.

We can’t let the BLM get away with this. The agency ignores the wishes of the American public by clearing wild horses off the land to make room for cattle ranchers and gas and mining companies who want to exploit public lands. Most of these formerly free mustangs are stockpiled in BLM holding facilities in the Midwest, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars annually. Now this public agency is attempting to prevent all but a handpicked few from observing and documenting its treatment of the wild horses who are beloved by so many Americans.

Please follow this link to In Defense of Animals and submit the form today. Ask your representatives in Congress to force the BLM to allow the public to see and document how the agency is spending tax dollars to roundup and hold wild horses and burros. After you submit this form, please call your senators and representatives to follow up and ask them what action they have taken on this issue.

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Report From Renownd Wildlife Ecologist Craig Downer

Letter to BLM by Craig Downer – The Cloud Foundation and The Equine Welfare Alliance

Wild Horse and Burro Division
Bureau of Land Management
Reno, NV

Freedom by Craig Downer

Dear Sirs:

I am concerned about the fate of Calico complex wild horses now in captivity north of Fallon as well as those that remain living in the wild in the five HMA’s from which the former where captured.  I recently flew over southern and central portions of Black Rock East, Black Rock West, Calico Mountain, and Granite Range HMA’s in a light plane. In this very open area I was only able to observe only 31 wild horses in several bands, while  during this same flight I observed 350 cattle.  There was a reasonable spring green-up of the landscape and the open treeless character of the terrain permitted a high degree of horse detection.

My concern is this: there appears to be a real dearth of wild horses remaining in the complex after the last helicopter roundups.  In light of this, I am requesting that the Calico horses now in captivity not be moved to holding and adoption centers until after the aerial population inventory you are planning for the complex is completed.  I understand this is to take place right away.  If, in fact, there are far fewer wild horses remaining in the complex  than earlier estimated, I would urge you to release a fair number of the wild horses of equal sex ratios in order to bring the herd up to a more adequate level.

Looking forward to your response,

Sincerely,

Craig C. Downer

Craig’s Documented Observations

RETURN FLIGHT OVER CALICO MOUNTAIN WILD HORSE HERD MANAGEMENT AREAS COMPLEX (WINNEMUCCA BLM DISTRICT) AND BUFFALO HILLS WHHMA TO WEST

Date of Flight: Monday, May 3, 2010

Date of Report: Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Pilot: Mr. Shane Gorman (Reno, NV) of Lighthawk organization. Flight arranged through Sharon Stone of Lighthawk. Plane is lightweight acrobatic Citabrio, similar to Piper Cub. 2 passenger.  Superior wing.

Passenger and observer/photographer(digital stills) and author of this report: Craig C. Downer, wildlife ecologist

Leave Truckee (Calif.) airport ca. 8:40 AM.  Airport located off Hwy 267, SE of I-80 hwy and near town of Truckee, mid elevation Sierra Nevada mtns.

Weather: Sunny, cool, clear.  Fly to Winnemucca, central northern Nevada to fuel up.

Land at Winnemucca (Nevada) airport at 10 AM. Fuel up and take off heading NW toward Black Rock Range (BRR) and BRR East Wild Horse Herd Management Area (whhma), spotting for wild horses, cattle and noting range condition and other factors.  A strong head wind is encountered blowing from the West

11:15 AM.  50 Black Angus cattle observed SE portion of BRR East.  No wild horses in sight.  Coming over ridge GPS Coordinates are: 41 deg 33 min N; 118 deg 31 min W.

11:22 AM.  Ca. 100 Hereford cattle seen. No wild horses observed.  GPS Coordinates: 41 deg 33 min N; 118 deg. 42 min W.  One small band of 7 wild horses finally sighted.  Band includes bays and sorrels.  Flying south another small band of 4 wild horses is spotted to the NW.  GPS Coordinates 41 deg 30 min N; 118 deg 48 min W.  Several herds of cattle observed, estimated at ca. 80, feeding on spring green up of range.  Area has hardly any wild horses.  They have been lost to the recent BLM-contracted roundups conducted by Cattoor Livestock Roundup company out of Nephi, Utah.

11:43 AM.  Flying just to south of Paiute Meadows Ranch and south of Elephant Mountain, SE of Little Big Mtn. and Big Mtn.  Freedom, famous stallion who escaped capture corrals at Paiute Meadows on Jan. 2, 2010, and his band were from this area.  The helicopter drove them in from the northern part of Elephant Mtn.  Freedom escaped toward Big Mtn. (Photo above.)  Lamentably no wild horses are observed during our flight over this vast and spectacular area.  Portions of BRR West whhma observed.  We decide to turn back toward the SW due to increased turbulence and dark clouds with some sculpted clouds to the north.

11:56 AM.  Two wild horse bands spotted, one with 8 wild horses, the other with 7 wild horses.  GPS Coordinates 41 deg 04 min N; 119 deg 13 min W toward S end of Calico Hills, Calico Mtn whhma.  Another band of 5 wild horses spotted to N.  GPS Coordinates: 41 deg 03 min N; 119 deg 15 min W.  South of Division Peak.

12:09 PM.  GPS Coordinates 40 deg 55 min N; 119 deg 31 min W.  N. Granite Range and Granite Range whhma.  No wild horses observed.  Formerly several wild horse bands frequented here.  Proceeding west.  Smoke Creek Desert to south.  Large dust plumes arising from desert indicates strong gusts.  Head wind remains strong.  Very sparse vegetation with a few stunted Juniper trees, sparsely distributed.  Spring green up noted.
12:13 PM.  Use binoculars to carefully inspect W side Granite range from north.  No wild horses observed.  Digital photos.  Many cattle grazing here, est. 120, in diverse locations.  These tend to cluster around water sources.

12:16 PM.  Pass over reservoir.  No wild horses, nor wild horse trails.  No dung depots.
Overall conclusion: Portions of Calico Mtn whhma Complex inspected from the air are nearly devoid of wild horses whereas before there was a fair number of wild horses in these areas, evenly distributed in a mosaic formed of wild horse band home ranges.

12:19 PM.  One band of 7 wild horses spotted by reservoir and another band of 5 wild horses observed far off.  GPS Coordinates: 40 deg 49 min N; 119 deg 43 min W.  This is in the Buffalo Hills whhma (not part of Calico Mtn whhma Complex).  Snow capped Lassen Peak (and active volcano) visible to NNW.

12:21 PM.  One band of 4 wild horses spotted. GPS Coordinates: 40 deg 47 min N; 119 deg 47 min W.

12:22 PM.  Flying above a ranch.  GPS Coordinates: 40 deg 45 min N; 119 deg 50 min W.  52 cattle congregated around a reservoir.  Due to turbulence, we’ll head to Susanville (Calif.) airport to SW.   Strong headwind, increasing gusts buffet plane.

12:28 PM.  Due south of Warner Mtns.  Many cattle observed (not counted). Very sparse vegetation, due in part to volcanic activity from Lassen as well as intense and extensive livestock overgrazing of the public lands here.  Wave clouds to north indicate turbulence and high velocity winds.

1:00 PM.  Mr. Gorman lands Citabrio at Susanville airport on dirt runway that allows going directly into the strong headwind that is 25 knots and gusting to 35 knots, dangerous for a light plane. Two passes necessary before landing made.  Several men have to aid in securing airplane in hangar as high winds would have flipped it. I remained in plane for weight.

2 PM.  Return to Truckee via Reno in a rental car.

TOTAL WILD HORSES OBSERVED: 47, OF WHICH 31 OBSERVED IN CALICO MTN COMPLEX OF WHHMA’S.

TOTAL CATTLE OBSERVED: 402 OF WHICH 350 OBSERVED IN CALICO MTN COMPLEX OF WHHMA’S.

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