Professional Documents
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INTRODUCTION
2014 has been yet another year of substantial growth for our campaign. In 2014:
This year marked a turning point. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holding facilities
reached capacity with more than 48,000 wild horses stockpiled, and the agency was
forced to reduce roundups and removals as a result. At the same time, we have
successfully shifted the debate and even the cattlemen are coming to terms with the
fact that slaughter is not a viable solution to the BLM wild horse dilemma.
"In the old days that [management] was done through gathering horses and
shipping them. Most of those horses went in to processing facilities. That clearly
appears to be unacceptable to much of the general public today. So the other
alternative that makes sense to us at least is more aggressive fertility control
and neutering of horses." Jim Magana, Wyoming Stock Growers Association
While we continue to vigorously oppose spaying and neutering wild free-roaming
horses, we do find ourselves at a unique moment in time when the decrease in BLM
roundups and removals, along with the foreclosure of slaughter as an option, is bringing
even ranchers to the table to endorse on-the-range management through fertility
control. Our growing grassroots advocacy efforts, which are causing increasing
Americans to speak up for mustangs, have played no small role in this situation. Mr.
Maganas quote hits home the fact that we are literally the line standing between wild
horses and certain doom, and our collective voices are being increasingly heard.
With that in mind, we are proud to detail in this report our 2014 major
accomplishments and our ever-expanding outreach efforts.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
LITIGATION
Working with the public interest law firm of Meyer, Glitzenstein and Crystal, AWHPC
launched legal actions to defend wild horses in four states. Were giving wild horses and
burros a powerful voice in federal court against unprecedented legal assaults aimed at
eradicating them from our public lands.
On February 27, 2014, AWHPC filed a motion to intervene on behalf of the campaign,
author Terri Farley and wild horse photographer Mark Terrell in a case filed by the
Nevada Association of Counties and several Nevada ranchers against the Interior
Department and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The suit seeks a court order to
compel the BLM to remove thousands of wild horses from public lands in Nevada and to
mandate the sale for slaughter of the nearly 50,000 wild horses warehoused in
government holding facilities. Our motion to intervene was granted on April 2, 2014. On
May 29, we filed a motion to dismiss this case, which was quickly followed by the
governments own motion to dismiss the case. We are currently awaiting the courts
ruling on these motions.
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, et al. vs. Tom Vilsack, Secretary,
Department of Agriculture, et al.
In March 2014, AWHPC, joined by advocate Carla Bowers and Return to Freedom,
teamed up with the Animal Legal Defense Fund to file a lawsuit against the Forest
Service over its plans to reduce the size of Californias largest remaining wild horse
habitat area on Forest Service land the Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory. The Service
plans to carve out the middle section of the territory and divide the wild horse
population into two non-intermingling herds, thus jeopardizing their long-term genetic
viability. The case has been fully briefed and we are awaiting a court ruling. More
information on this case can be found here.
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, et. al. vs. United States
Department of the Interior
On August 8, 2014, AWHPC, joined by The Cloud Foundation, Return to Freedom and
wild horse photographers Carol Walker and Kimerlee Curyl filed a motion for a
preliminary injunction to block the BLMs blatantly illegal, massive roundup of wild
horses living in three Wyoming Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in an area known as
the Wyoming Checkerboard. The lower court judge (who is also the former First Lady of
Wyoming) denied our motion and we appealed her denial to the Tenth Circuit Court of
Appeals in Denver. Unfortunately, a two-judge panel denied our appeal in a brief, twosentence ruling. As a result, we were not able to stop the roundup and the BLM
proceeded to capture and remove 1,263 wild horses in an operation that left the wild
horse population in each of the three HMAs below the legally established levels. Our
lawsuit continues in the lower court, where a hearing on the merits is scheduled for
March 2 in Cheyenne. Given the judges previous rulings, we are prepared to again take
this case to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, where a larger panel of judges will hear
the case and, hopefully, justice will prevail!
The court has granted our motion and we are currently evaluating our options for
getting this case dismissed based on its lack of legal merit.
FIELD WORK
What will be the largest-scale humane management project for wild horses ever, we are
close to finalizing with the state of Nevada a second cooperative agreement that will
allow us to work with our local coalition partners to implement humane management
of the Virginia Range wild horses, who live on private, state and local lands in and
around Reno and are not protected by federal law. The agreement will allow us to
implement birth control, diversionary feeding, fencing and other measures to control
population numbers, mitigate horse/human conflicts, improve public safety and keep
the horses out of harm's way. The goal is, whenever possible, to prevent their capture
and removal from their homes on the range.
Roundups
We also continued to document BLM roundups -- including the Bible Springs Complex
capture operation in Utah in July 2014, for which we also produced a video and also
attended all BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meetings. Please see our
Eyewitness Reports for more details.
RESCUE
AWHPC, working with our local coalition partners, helped rescue from slaughter over 70
of the historic Virginia Range wild horses after they were captured and removed by the
Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA). A cooperative agreement brokered by
AWHPC with the NDA and signed by our founding organization, Return to Freedom,
allows us to purchase captured horses directly from the state, preventing them from
being sold at a livestock auction. And, thanks to the generosity of AWHPC supporters,
we have been able to purchase, transport and place dozens of Virginia Range horses in
forever homes. Included amongst those saved is the Lockwood family of 13, a beautiful
band of horses that was purchased by AWHPC after their capture by the NDA and cared
for in a wonderful foster home for almost a year before being transferred to a private,
7,000 acre sanctuary. Please read more about this special family and see moving video
and photos documenting the moment they were freed to an expansive, 300-acre
pasture after being confined for a year here. Nearly 700,000 people on FB have seen
the uplifting photos of these horses bucking and galloping with joy at their new-found
freedom!
OUTREACH
MEDIA COVERAGE
We spent considerable effort trying to educate the local media in Utah, Wyoming and
Nevada about the wild horse issue and demonstrate and put into perspective the vast
inequity between land and forage allocation to federally protected wild horses vs. to
privately-owned livestock. In each of these states, wild horse habitat acreage pales in
comparison with the tens of millions of public land acres grazed by livestock. Likewise,
wild horse and burro numbers are dwarfed by the number of livestock grazing on public
lands in each of these states. As demonstrated below, that perspective is beginning to
be reported in some of these articles.
January 2014
NV Seeks New Homes for Captured Wild Horses, Public News Service, Nevada,
January 23, 2014
The Plight of the American Wild Horse, Decoded Science, January 9, 2014
February 2014
Little of federal horse budget spent on fertility, Associated Press, February 19,
2014
Elko County pitching in up to $10,000 for lawsuit against feds over wild horse
management, Associated Press, February 18, 2014
Amazing Mustang Film Premieres Feb. 21, Palm Beach Town Crier, February 16,
2014
RAC recommends BLM sell excess horses, February 15, 2014
Second wild horse eco-sanctuary proposed near Lander, WyoFile, February 12,
2014
Elko County agrees to give up to $10,000 in wild horse lawsuit, Elko Free Press,
February 8, 2014
Comments call for more fertility control with wild horses, Elko Free Press,
February 7, 2014
March 2014
April 2014
Gov. Gary Herbert slammed for wild horse comments, Deseret News, April 30,
2014
BLM switching tactics to control wild horses, KRNV, April 25, 2014
BLM Approves Pilot Project to Treat Wild Horses With Fertility Control, KTVN,
April 24, 2014
Horse advocates want to bid, Cody Enterprise, April 22, 2014
Ranchers, Bureau of Land Management Feud over Round Ups, Fox40 News,
April 16, 2014
Rebellious Ranchers Round Up Federally Protected Wild Horses, AllGov.com,
April 15, 2014
Controversy Over Wyoming Estray Horse Gather, Sale, The Horse, April 14, 2014
Wild horses targeted for roundup in Utah rangeland clash, Reuters, April 12,
2014
Trib Talk: Wild horse roundup Iron County vs. federal law?, Salt Lake Tribune,
April 9, 2014
Amid criticism, Iron County, BLM plan wild horse roundup, Salt Lake Tribune,
April 7, 2014
Advocates join wild horse lawsuit, Elko Daily Free Press, April 5, 2014
Tension growing between ranchers, mustang backers, Associated Press, April 5,
2014
May 2014
June 2014
Men of Justice and Compassion to hold awareness event in Salt Lake City,
Deseret News, June 30, 2014
BLM sides with wild horse advocates in seeking dismissal of suit seeking
accelerated roundups, Associated Press, June 27, 2014
BLM files motion to dismiss wild horse lawsuit, KCSG Television, June 26,
2014
Federal land workers to gather wild horses in Utah, Reuters, June 25, 2014
Under pressure, BLM OKs roundup of 140 wild horses, Salt Lake Tribune,
June 24, 2014
Wild horses: BLM says comment count at 36,000, The Spectrum, June 17,
2014
Utah BLM tries contraception to rein in wild horse population, Salt Lake
Tribune, June 16, 2014
Wild Horse Advocates Fight Against Horse Roundup, Mid-Utah Radio, June 4,
2014
Record Number of Americans Protest Wild Horse Roundup Scheduled to
Appease Handful of Utah Ranchers, KCSG-TV, June 3, 2014
Wild horse advocates flood BLM with roundup opposition, Salt Lake
Tribune, June 3, 2014
Wild-horse advocates urge dismissal of Nevada lawsuit using same logic
that sank theirs, Associated Press, June 2, 2014
July 2014
Utah wild horse roundup off to good start, Salt Lake Tribune, July 29, 2014
Round-up of wild horses gets under way in Utah, Reuters, July 29, 2014
BLM to remove more than 800 wild horses in southern Wyoming, Star-Tribune,
July 28, 2014
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August 2014
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September 2014
Push for protection for Mesa Verde wild horses continues Sept 22, 2014,
Denver Post
Utah ends inmate wild horse program with BLM Sept 5, 2014, Associated Press
Prison ends wild horse program; BLM must remove 1,100 animals Sept 5, 2014,
Salt Lake Tribune
Tenth Circuit Considers New Appeal to Block Wild Horse Roundup Sept 4, 2014,
Wyoming Public Media
Feds agree to postpone Wyoming wild horse roundup Sept 3, 2014, Associated
Press
October 2014
Nevada, Wild Horse Advocates Clash over Estrays, October 29, 2014, The Horse
Nevada asks public not to interfere with horse round up, October 28, 2014,
Reno Gazette Journal
Wyoming Legislators to Study Wild Horse Management, October 28, 2014, The
Horse
Wild Horse Advocates Seek Lawsuit Dismissal, October 23, 2014, The Horse
Wild horse lovers counter Utah ranchers lawsuit , October 22, 2014, Salt Lake
Tribune
Vehicle vs. wild horse accidents on 50 drawing concerns, October 8, 2014, Reno
Gazette Journal
Wild Horses, Dragged Away, October 5, 2014, Letter to the Editor, New York
Times
December 2014
Activists rip plans to remove over 750 mustangs in Nevada, December 29,
2014, Associated Press
Wild horse advocates push to enter Wyoming lawsuit, December 21, 2014,
Associated Press
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Complaints about a federal land grab continue - even the burro lovers are
annoyed, December 9, 2014, Washington Times
The Land Grab Deemed a Backroom Deal, December 8, 2014, Washington Times
NEWS RELEASES
Recent Wild Horse Capture Highlights Need for Cooperative Management
Agreement with State, January 31, 2014
Virginia Range horses available for adoption, January 16, 2014
BLM Ignores Tens of Thousands of Public Comments; Gallops Ahead with
Wyoming Wild Horse Wipeout, January 13, 2014
BLM Creating a Crisis Where Slaughter is the Only Solution, Feb 18, 2014
National Coalition Reacts to Nevada BLM Advisory Committee
Recommendation to Sell Federally Protected Wild Horses for Slaughter,
February 7, 2014
Cost of federal wild horse program pales in comparison to $500 million - $1
billion-a-year public lands grazing program, February 5, 2014
BLM Doubles Down on Wild Horse Helicopter Roundup Despite Scientific Study
Calling for Alternatives, February 3, 2014
Animal Advocates Sue US Forest Service Over California Horses, March 24, 2014
National Coalition Calls on Utah Governor to Stop Attack on Wild Horses, April
28, 2014
BLM Called Upon to Protect Range and Federally-Protected Wild Horses:
Remove All Livestock During Extreme Drought, April 15, 2014
New BLM Director Called Upon to Uphold Federal Law to Protect Wild Horses
as Ranchers Threaten Illegal Roundups, April 8, 2014
Advocates Warn Ranchers and BLM: Removal of Wild Horses Violates Federal
Laws, April 7, 2014
Federal Court Grants Wild Horse Advocates Request to Intervene in Nevada
Ranchers Lawsuit Against Wild Horses, April 3, 2014
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Federal Court Asked to Toss Nevada Ranchers Anti-Mustang Lawsuit , May 29,
2014
Statement in Response to BLMs Capture of Wild Horses in Southern Utah, May
6, 2014
Faxes Pour in to Utah Governor in Defense of Wild Horses as Feds Cave to
Threats; Schedule Massive Mustang Roundup, May 1, 2014
Record Number of Americans Protest Wild Horse Roundup Scheduled to
Appease Handful of Utah Ranchers, June 2, 2014
Welfare Ranching Trumps Public Opinion: BLM Begins Utah Roundup to
Appease Ranchers, July 28, 2014
National Coalition Slams BLM for Plans to Wipe Out Wild Horses from
Wyoming Checkerboard, July 19, 2014
Bundy Extremists Behind New Bill to Roll Back Federal Wild Horse & Burro
Protections, July 15, 2014
National Coalition Calls Foul to BLM Announcement to Roundup 2,400 Wild
Horses This Summer; July 9, 2014
Court Grants Emergency Injunction to Delay BLM Wyoming Wild Horse
Roundup, August 29, 2014
40,000 Americans Sign Petition Opposing Wyoming Wild Horse Wipeout
Petition Delivered To BLM Advisory Board , August 25, 2014
Wild Horse Groups Slam BLM for Deaths of 75 Captured Mustangs, August 20,
2014
Wild Horse Groups Oppose State Intervention in Lawsuit to Stop BLM Wyoming
Wild Horse Roundup, August 18, 2014
57 Federally Protected Wild Horses Die: Response, August 16, 2014
BLM Delays Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup As Preliminary Injunction Motion
Filed, August 11, 2014
Lawsuit Filed to Halt BLMs Scheduled Wild Horse Roundup on the Wyoming
Checkerboard, August 1, 2014
Interior Secretary Called Upon for Fair, Effective Protections for Sage Grouse
that Do Not Scapegoat Wild Horses, September 24, 201
Environmental Report Confirms BLM Scapegoating Wild Horses for Range
Damage Caused by Livestock, September 18, 2014
Federal Court Allows Wild Horse Advocates to Intervene in Utah Rancher
Lawsuit, September 10, 2014
Appellate Court Denies Emergency Motion and Allows Unprecedented
Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup That Turns Over Public Lands to Private
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ALERTS DISTRIBUTED
Tell BLM: Remove Livestock to Protect Wild Horses & Burros During Drought
Tell BLM To Withdraw Wild Horse Habitat From Gas/Oil Lease Auction
Tell BLM: Improve Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Management Plan
Tell BLM: Remove Livestock to Protect Wild Horses & Burros During Drought
Tell NV Governor: Stop Delay & Implement Virginia Range Mustang
Management Agreement!
BLM WYOMING NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Stop BLM Wyoming Wild Horse Wipeout
Dont Let BLM Use Sage Grouse as an Excuse to Remove Wild Horses and
Burros in CA/NV
Dont Let BLM Use Sage Grouse as an Excuse to Remove Wild Horses and
Burros in Utah and Idaho
Tell Forest Service: Wild Horses Need Greater Protection in Inyo National
Forest
Tell Congress: Sign the Keep Wild Horses Wild Pledge
TELL BLM OREGON: PROTECT WILD HORSES IN SAGE GROUSE PLANS!
Ask Senator Reid to Find Missing Sheldon Refuge Wild Horses
Tell BLM To Withdraw Wild Horse Habitat From Gas/Oil Lease Auction
Tell Utahs Elected Officials: Intervene to Stop Illegal Wild Horse Roundup
Tell Utahs Governor: Dont Mess With Wild Horses
BLM Caves To Ranchers; Plans Massive Wild Horse Roundup for Utah
Tell BLM to Withdraw Wild Horse Habitat from Gas/Oil Lease Auction
Tell BLM: Stop Ignoring Public Comments
Comments Needed on Use of Helicopters to "Manage" Wild Horses & Burros
Take Action Now to Stop Horse Slaughter Amendment
Tell BLM & Gov. Sandoval to Stand Up to Ranchers & Support Reductions to
Livestock Grazing on Drought-Stricken Public Lands
Tell BLM to Stand Up to Ranchers & Reduce Livestock Grazing on DroughtStricken Public Lands
Take a Stand Against Wyoming Wild Horse Wipeout & News
Stop BLM from Exiling American Burros to Guatemala & More News
Tell BLM: Give Wild Horses Fair Share and more news
Submit Comments on Use of Helicopters to Roundup Wild Horses & Burros and
more news
Take Action to Stop Horse Slaughter Amendment
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