BLM Announces Plan to Destroy the Onaqui Mountain Wild Horse Herd in 2019
By Carol J. Walker, Director of Field Documentation, Wild Horse Freedom Federation
Yesterday the BLM issued a press release on its Decision Record for the Onaqui Mountain Wild Horse Herd in Utah. The BLM says “The objectives of the approved population control measures are to slow the herd’s population growth and achieve and maintain a balance between wild horses on the range and other public land resources.”
You can read the Decision Record and all the other documents here:
Their plan is to remove 465 wild horses from the Herd Management Area in 2019 using both bait trapping and helicopters. Currently the population is estimated to be 505 wild horses, but the BLM is estimating that with foals born in 2019 that the population will be at 586, and they want to bring the herd down to the low end of the Appropriate Management Level of 121 wild horses. As usual, the BLM does not allow for any foal mortality, which can be as high as 40% in the first year of a foal’s life, nor do they allow for deaths of older horses during the winter. The BLM does not say WHEN they plan to do this in 2019 – it could be as early as February or as late as the fall. They cannot use helicopters during foaling season which according to the BLM starts March 1.
If the BLM brings the numbers of the herd down to 121 wild horses, this is far below the number necessary to maintain genetic viability, which according to the leading wild horse geneticist Dr. Gus Cothren is 150 adult wild horses. This risk to the genetic health and survival of this herd will be compounded by the continuing plans of the BLM to use birth control, PZP and Gonacon, to control the birth rate of a herd whose numbers will already be too low.
Ten wild horse advocacy groups including Wild Horse Freedom Federation as well as 7872 individuals submitted comments regarding this plan earlier in the year, and there was tremendous public outcry against this plan. This herd is much loved by members of the American public who come from all over the country to visit, observe and photograph this herd.
Volunteers had begun documenting and training to give birth control to the mares in this herd in order to control the population, and keep the horses in their herd management area with their families where they belong. But the BLM disregarded the wishes of the public and plan to proceed with decimating this herd.
As usual, the BLM has no concern for what happens to these horses once they are removed. If they proceed as they have been doing with herds rounded up in Wyoming this last year, the youngest will be offered for adoption, but likely the public will not even be able to see, let along adopt or purchase all the adult horses over 5 if they get shipped to the private facilities like in Axtell, Utah or Bruneau, Idaho. Instead these horses will be shipped to holding facilities or sold by the semi-load and end up at slaughter.
This is wrong. This plan is cruel, inhumane, dangerous to the continued heath of the herd and against the wishes of the people who care about these wild horses. America’s wild horses do not belong to the BLM, they belong to all of us, and they deserve to live their lives wild and free in their families in their homes, and managed in the most humane and least invasive way possible.
What can you do to help? Contact your Senators and Representatives now:
Contact Your Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
Contact Your Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives
Previous Posts:
To find out more about Wild Horse Freedom Federation and our work to keep wild horses and burros wild and free on our public lands visit: www.WildHorseFreedomFederation.org
Exposing the Big Game 
Reblogged this on Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting Blog.
Typical blm bullshit that caters to ranchers and livestock. They are so far out of whack on this huge wild horse removal….it’s just way too many and most will not be adopted.
While many decry destruction and slaughter of herds, they directly fund it by continuing to purchase beef (sometimes with excuses such as “I only buy local”, etc.). Unless pressure is put on the entire industry, it has ZERO incentive to rein in welfare ranchers or stop the slaughter of mustangs, wolves and bison. The industry (and make no mistake — the BLM is simply doing the industry’s bidding) knows it can kill with impunity be cause the public will wring its hands and keep right on purchasing burgers and steaks. Advocacy groups blame the BLM and tell the public it needs to write letters and make calls without ever mentioning that BEEF is the issue. Why should the industry change a goddamn thing? Does anyone actually think that “doing the right thing” even registers on the radar?
OK WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TOSTOP THESE RANCHERS FROM DOING THIS WE CANNOT LET IT HAPPEN
Maybe if we all walked away from our computers we could actually get something done…it’s easy to “reply” or “leave a comment” and post & share or leave a sad face….nobady will do anything and these animals will be murdered. End of story.
Yes, “buying local” still contributes to the slaughter of wildlife because the entire industry takes care of its own. There is no rationale to hang on to for allowing the slaughter of our wildlife.
This abuse of horses really has to be stopped – it is beyond cruel and inhumane.
EXACTLY. I assume groups are fearful of pointing this out (and calling for a boycott) after what the beef industry bullies and thugs did to Oprah. (Either that or they are delusional / not wanting to change personal habits they enjoy).
Don’t know what they did to Oprah but I’m sure she deserved it and survived it. That lady Is worth 2.7 billion 🤣. She doesn’t care other than whatever promotes her ratings and helps push her far left agenda.
This horrific government terrorist organization is hell bent on killing horses! We the people are supposed to have a say in our countries lands and the inhabitats ! This is wrong and backed by that crazed dictator in the White House!
Things change very quickly and exactly what good now may
stop enough day after today. I want to hear yes, or no because they are answers
that provides me an understandable next maneuver. http://www.2-hand.info/url.php?url=918.cafe%2Fdownloads%2F61-download-918kiss-scr888-ios-android
Reblogged this on Save Animals! Julesrs007- Blog and commented:
… press release on its Decision Record for the Onaqui Mountain Wild Horse Herd in Utah. The BLM says “The objectives of the approved population control measures are to slow the herd’s population growth and achieve and maintain a balance between wild horses on the range and other public land resources.”
Leave them alone.
We all live on this Earth together, where we shall also die one day. No creature is above or below the other. Aren’t we all merely striving for the same things? I myself only need happiness and to see my children satisfied with their own lives so that they may be happy, and so on. How have we allowed some to make the rules? Their pockets are full, some wear jewels on their heads, some live in castles on islands, etc., etc. We who disagree with these power hungry ASSHOLES have got to agree to do something about the wrongs of some people we share this Earth with. WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT WILL WE DO?? HOW CAN WE DO IT??? Is this the only way? “Leave a Reply”???? help.LEAVE THE FUCKING ANIMALS ALONE FOR FUCKS SAKE. THEY CAN NOT DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST YOU AND YOUR MURDER. I HOPE THERE IS A TERRIBLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU AFTER YOU LEAVE THIS EARTH.
We need a petition to stop this.
We need to file a civil class action suit, or as Arizona saved some with an injuction…
Besides calling your own Senators & Representatives … also call Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) …. they are sponsoring a bill to ban horse slaughter …. and then say this prayer:
“Oh God, let us be bold in our pursuit of justice. Let us support each other as we work against the principalities and powers and not grow weary. Amen.”
Leave the wild horses alone and do not destroy the herd. They belong Galloping free and in the wild with every stallion guarding their mares and foals. Cancel the plan and teach everyone to treat these horses with respect and watch them Trot through the fields and do not allow anyone to slaughter them either because that is unacceptable as well as killing them. You must be gentle with nature.
When animals are put on the endangered species list, people shake their heads. Yet here it is, people holding the lives of animals in their hands and NOT doing anything to keep them from disappearing! So sad and STUPID!!! Do something or just wait until you, too, just shake your head!
You have no right! 85% of the American people want the wild horses! They’re protected by law!
Stop slaughtering our wil horses!