|
|
|
Protest of plan for sterilization of Saylor Creek wild horse herd and HMA
Subject: Protest of plan for sterilization of Saylor Creek wild horse herd and HMA October 29, 2015 Mr. Elliot Traher, Field Office Manager Twin Falls, ID 83301 Dear Mr. Traher and team: It has recently come to my attention that your office is planning on sterilizing an entire population of wild horses in the Saylor Creek HMA that covers 95,000 acres of public lands and that only about fifty (50) wild horses remain in this area. If this is the case, then, with this letter I am officially protesting this as an extreme violation of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act . I have been in this area and it is very hard to find the few sparsely distributed wild horses here. The herd is terribly underpopulated and needs to be augmented and in no way should you be sterilizing any of the stallions or mares of the Saylor Creek HMA! Instead, you should decrease livestock allocations in order to restore the wild horses to a viable population level. I also understand that you are planning on experimenting with risky sterilization methods. This is outrageous and I strongly oppose this cruel and callous disregard for these wonderful horses as well as the great many of U.S. citizens who appreciate the wild horses in the wild and want to see them treated fairly and without bias. The horse is definitely a deeply rooted North American native species and when members of this species return to the wilds of their legal Saylor Creek area on BLM lands they restore the ecosystem in many ways, for example by building soils with greater humus and by dispersing the intact germinable seeds of diverse plant species. They also are great reducers of dry flammable vegetation and so greatly help to prevent catastrophic wildfires while at the same time contributing humus to the soils, that make these soils both more nutrient-rich and more water-retentive. Idaho has hardly any wild horses left and what you are planning on doing, or appear to be planning — and forgive me if I am mistaken — would be totally illegal and a serious abrogation of several laws including the above mentioned WFHBA, as well as NEPA, the Administrative Procedures Act, the Endangered Species Act (for this unique population is definitely endangered), the National Historical Preservation Act (for these wild horses constitute a precious historical heritage appreciated by the great majority of Americans), as well as the Multiple Use and Sustainability Act (for this plan is all the opposite of Multiple Use, i.e. it is monopolization of the public lands for a few select vested interests, mainly the livestock permittees). I look forward to your timely response to my protest. My complete contact information is given below. Sincerely, Craig C. Downer Wildlife Ecologist Wild Horse and Burro Fund |
Support Our Work Make a tax-deductible contribution to allow us to continue conducting research, education and outreach. Get Involved Sign up to receive our Action Alerts. Purchase a copy of The Wild Horse Conspiracy by Craig Downer.
|
