BLM defers wild horse gather as animal-advocacy group announces potential lawsuit

Written by Dee Holzel Monday, February 08 2010 11:46

ELY - The BLM announced today they would defer the wild horse gather scheduled for mid-February at the Eagle Herd Management Area in Lincoln County.  The gather would have removed approximately 500 horses from the range – including 50 that had wandered off the range and were causing traffic hazards on the highway near Pioche, the BLM said.

“The BLM has determined there is not adequate time to safely conduct the proposed Eagle Herd Management Area (HMA) gather prior to the beginning of foaling season, and therefore will defer issuing a decision on the proposed gather until later this year after the foaling season,” said Chris Hanefeld, public affairs specialist with the Ely BLM District Office.

The gather is the subject of a potential lawsuit from In Defense of Animals, a San Francisco-based animal advocacy organization.  IDA filed notice with the Department of Justice stating their intention to sue to prevent another wild horse gather in Nevada.  The announcement was made in a press release issued last week by the IDA.

A similar effort before a recent wild horse gather in Humboldt County was unsuccessful. However, in attempting to block another wild horse gather, the IDA cited deaths and injuries that occurred to wild horses during the recent roundup in Humboldt County at the Calico HMA.

According to the BLM, seven horses died at the Calico HMA gather site and 32 died at the holding facility in Fallon following the gather.

“Most of the deaths were horses that were in extremely poor body condition because of lack of forage on overpopulated rangelands.  These animals either died or were euthanized by the veterinarian on-site at the Fallon facility,” a BLM press release noted

IDA is being represented in court by William Spriggs, of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.

Although Spriggs did not succeed in preventing the proposed gather in Humboldt County, there was a victory of sorts when Judge Paul L. Friedman ruled in December the BLM probably did not have the authority under the WHBA (Wild Horse and Burro Act) to hold horses in long-term facilities.  He ruled the BLM does have the authority to gather and euthanize to prevent overpopulation, but Congress has long refused to fund wild horse euthanization.

Additional Information

From the Bureau of Land Management:

BLM defers proposed HMA gather

BLM seeks public comments on Eagle HMA wild horse gather preliminary EA

BLM concludes wild horse gather

From SPJ:

Wild horse gather goes forward – future of long-term holding facilities uncertain

Commissioners suggest different kind of tour for Sheryl Crow

BLM moves forward with wild horse roundup

Read the original article here.