Tag Archives: Cloud Foundation

Photo credit: Ginger Kathrens.

Every 20-30 years the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is supposed to create a long-term management plan for wild horse and burro herds, called a Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP). These HMAPs outline management actions that will be carried out over the coming years; they can include what is prohibited and what should be done, along with alternatives.

Right now, BLM is asking for public input for the Bullfrog HMAP. The wonderful burros who live in this HMA often go into the town of Beatty during the dry summer months due to a lack of water on the range. BLM’s solution for this — as it seems to be for everything/in every situation — is removal.

Now is the time for us to call upon BLM to create humane solutions that:

Ensure adequate water sources are available and protected in the HMA to help keep burros on the range, off of the roadways, and out of the town.
Take safety measures/establishing measures to keep the burros safe. For instance, because the HMA is cut in half by Hwy 95, a burro crossing might be in order.
Reassess and increase the “Allowable” Management Level (AML) to a reasonable and humane number — right now BLM only allows 58 to 91 burros on approximately 130 square miles. This AML was set 27 years ago and needs to be reevaluated!

Please click here and take one-minute to make your voice heard. Due October 18.

Thank you for taking action — without your action, change will not happen!

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Horse Care/Protection

Death at Little Book Cliffs’ Helicopter Roundup

September 27, 2024 Associate Editor

Photo TCF – Little Book Cliffs roundup 2024

The Cloud Foundation (TCF) executive director Kerry Ferguson recently attended the first half of the helicopter roundup in the Little Book Cliffs (LBC) Herd Management Area (HMA) in Colorado. (Read Kerry’s roundup summary below.)

TCF friend, supporter, and wild horse advocate, Nalinka-Marion Fernandez, also attended the roundup. On the last day, she captured devastating video footage of the helicopter chasing a frightened mare and foal, causing the mare to run into a ditch and break her leg. (WARNING: Viewer discretion advised. Footage contains graphic/disturbing content. © Nalinka-Marion Fernandez)

While this tragic event was captured on video, these horrific events ending in injury and/or death occur at every roundup. The government hides these occurrences from the public by refusing to put cameras on helicopters, at traps, and in holding pens, which is why TCF is suing the Bureau of Land Management to get cameras at all roundups.

This video is exactly why we fight so hard for America’s wild horses and burros and reminds us of the importance of winning our lawsuit.

We cannot do this alone.

Please support TCF’s lawsuit to hold BLM accountable and, in addition to in-person observation, force them to put cameras on helicopters, at trap sites, and in holding pens — making all footage available UNEDITED to the public. Lawsuits are expensive and we need your support to see this through.

Little Book Clips Roundup Summary
Kerry Ferguson, TCF Executive Director

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) goal was to round up 130 horses and return 30 after administering the PZP birth control. Though we support using safe and reversible fertility control, we of course do not support the removal of all these wild horses from their homes and families on the range.

DAYS 1-3: The roundup began on September 11. For the first three days, observers were taken up to the Low Gap area of the range to observe operations taking place over on the Monument Rocks area of the range — about 2 miles away, across a canyon. Even with a powerful zoom lens, the helicopter appeared tiny, and only a cloud of dust told us that horses had been driven into the all-but-invisible trap. Meaningful observation… No.

NOTE: The Monument Rocks area is considered remote and difficult to get to. For our safety, we were placed about 2 miles away in the Low Gap Area of the HMA on an outcrop of boulders on the edge of a steep drop off where we would “watch” the operations taking place across the valley….

Click here to read the entire report.

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Horse Care/Protection

Update on Cloud Foundation Lawsuit to Get Cameras on Helicopters

July 26, 2024 Associate Editor

We wanted to share some GOOD news regarding The Cloud Foundation’s lawsuit to get cameras on helicopters at roundups.

As you may know, public observers attending roundups are only able to see a small portion of the operation (and that is dependent on the government providing adequate observation areas — which is not usually the case). As a result, most of the government’s highly controversial activities at these tragic roundups go unseen and unknown by the public. This is why last August TCF filed suit to require cameras on roundup helicopters, at trap sites, and in holding pens. This will allow the public to see in real time (or as close to real time as possible) how wild horses and burros are treated for the entirety of a roundup. Camera footage will hold BLM accountable, compel more humane treatment, and hopefully change the paradigm to show that wild horses are not “over-populating” our public lands and deserve their fair share.

Of course, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) does not want this transparency and accountability, and are fighting our lawsuit by moving to dismiss two of our claims. They argued to the court that BLM did not need to consider TCF’s public comments request for the cameras or whether “real-time cameras would be an easy, cost-effective method to facilitate public viewing of roundups and prevent inhumane treatment of horses during roundups…”

Thankfully, the court recently ruled that BLM is wrong. This means ALL the claims in our lawsuit will move forward, despite BLM’s attempt at dismissal. We are 10 months in and there is still a long way to go, but we have overcome the first of BLM’s obstacles to government accountability.

We will embrace each win to build strength to continue this fight for our wild ones. The court’s decision on the BLM’s motion to dismiss can be read here.

We cannot undertake actions such as this without the generous support of people like you. So, THANK YOU — this win is yours. If you are able, please consider donating by clicking here to support this important effort. Your donation will support this lawsuit and make you a part of history to reverse BLM’s distorted management of our precious wild horses and burros.

Thank you for your dedication and perseverance in fighting to get wild horses and burros fair and humane treatment. Together, we can do this.

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

*Featured/Spotlights

How Can We Promote the Health & Safety of America’s Horses?

March 2, 2024 Associate Editor

Slaughter-bound Wind River mare Amazing Grace and 6 foals rescued from a CO kill pen arrive at TCF equine vet Dr. Lisa Jacobson’s ranch in late August of 2023 to begin their road to freedom.

March 1 was National Horse Protection Day, we wanted to take a look at an important pending federal legislation to protect our beloved equines – the Save America’s Forgotten Equines, or SAFE Act, H.R.3475/S.2037.

What is the SAFE Act? It would amend the 2018 Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act, which bans the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, by adding the words “or equines” to the prohibition – thus protecting our nation’s most beloved companion animal species from the horrors of the slaughter process.

Roughly 20,000 American equines are exported every year to meat companies in Canada and Mexico, where they are subject to horrible cruelty before being butchered and their meat exported to foreign countries for human consumption — including China and Russia. For decades, advocates have worked to get this important bill passed, but despite broad public support, our efforts have been thwarted by the political influence of meat industry groups.

But now we have a two-pronged opportunity to get the protections needed.

First, Congress is now considering the 2023 Farm Bill, a must-pass piece of legislation that was the vehicle for passing the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act in 2018. As with that bill, we are asking Congress to add the SAFE Act as an amendment to the 2023 Farm Bill.

Second, even if the Farm Bill strategy is unsuccessful, the SAFE Act will continue as a free-standing bill that Congress can pass on its own merits. A majority of House members have signed onto the bill making it eligible for a committee hearing, yet it remains stuck with no hearing scheduled.

Here is where we most need your advocacy — to convince Congress to schedule the bill for a hearing so it advances to the full House for a vote.

The slaughter pipeline is an unimaginably horrific experience for horses and other equines. As natural prey animals they experience extreme misery and terror throughout the process. The entire slaughter pipeline — including the terror and chaos of the auction barns and kill pens, the misery of transport on crowded trucks to Canada and Mexico, and the killing itself — is incapable of being humane.

If we are unsuccessful in adding the SAFE Act as an amendment to the 2023 Farm Bill, it will be another FIVE YEARS before we have another Farm Bill opportunity. Similarly, if we are unsuccessful in getting it to move forward as a free-standing bill, we will have to wait until the next Congress in 2025 to begin the process again.

In other words, the time to act is NOW – and what better time than National Horse Protection Day?

Please give this legislation a look. If, like so many, you feel that it’s time to take our equines out of the slaughter pipeline – as we did for our dogs and cats – please let your congressional representatives know that you support H.R. 3475/S. 2037 – The SAFE Act of 2023.

Please join us in working to make a significant impact in eradicating slaughter for America’s horses — wild and domestic.

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

*Featured/Spotlights

Wyoming’s Wild Horses Are under Attack: Stop BLM’s Wild Horse Extermination Plan

January 13, 2024 Associate Editor

As we start a fresh new year, BLM Wyoming is finalizing its disastrous plan to further destroy wild horse herds in the southern portion of the state. 10 years in the making, this plan includes eliminating all wild horses in the Salt Wells Creek and Divide Basin Herd Management Areas (HMAs) and sterilizing all horses in the White Mountain HMA.

In October of 2021, The Cloud Foundation released a national opinion poll, which was conducted online by The Harris Poll. The poll found that more than 2 in 3 Americans (69%) oppose removing all wild horses from 1.5 million acres of public lands in southern Wyoming to accommodate the oil/gas and livestock industries. Yet sadly, in 2024, BLM’s goal to destroy wild herds to accommodate commercial livestock interests continues.

How do they get away with this? It’s disgusting that commercial interests seem to continually prevail over the will of the people. The biased and inhumane treatment of our wild herds is unforgivable. But we are more fortunate than most people in the world — we have our voice. We know that when Americans act en masse, government will listen.

So, here is OUR call to action: show up and speak up! Will you join us?

Please take a moment to join The Cloud Foundation in opposing this ill-conceived plan by signing our petition. Then, please share this alert with friends and family.

Thank you for ALL that you do — because together we will make a difference!

The deadline for public comments: January 17, 2024

For those who would like to submit your own comments, you may do so by visiting the BLM Rock Springs RMP Revision Eplanning page and selecting the “participate now” button. If needed, you may use the talking points included in the above petition for ideas to help craft your personal comments.

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

*Featured/Spotlights

BLM Is Rounding Up over 1000 Horses

November 2, 2023 Associate Editor

More of Nevada’s wild horses are being taken from their homes and families.

On Oct. 22nd, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began its wild horse roundup on and around the Roberts Mountain Complex located in Eureka County, approximately 20 miles northwest of Eureka, NV. The roundup operation is being conducted using helicopters.

According to a BLM statement,

(the) Roberts Mountain Complex encompasses approximately 556,500 acres of public and private lands and has an Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 110-184 wild horses. The complex includes the Roberts Mountain, Whistler Mountain, the northern portion of the Fish Creek Herd Management Areas, and the Kobeh Valley Herd Area. Based on the March 2023 population stats, which does not include foals born this year, BLM documented 1,161 wild horses within and outside the management areas of Roberts Mountain and Whistler Mountain HMAs – over 6 times above the high end of the established appropriate management level.

As of Monday, Oct. 30th, BLM had captured 589 Wild Horses (229 Stallions, 270 Mares, and 90 Foals). Their goal is to remove about 1,068 wild horses deemed “excess,” and treat up to 19 mares with GonaCon before being released back to the range — along with up to 19 stallions.

DEATHS
BLM’s Gather Status report states that 4 horses have died as of Oct. 30. This does not include 7 horses who were killed when the truck transporting 36 horses on Monday CRASHED:

A contracted semi-truck transporting horses gathered during the ongoing Roberts Mountain Gather in Nevada to Utah’s Axtell Holding Corrals turned over on its side on Highway 50 outside of Delta, Utah on October 30. The truck was transporting 36 horses. Three horses were killed in the accident, four were humanely euthanized due to their injuries, and many suffered minor cuts and bruises. BLM transported the 29 remaining horses to a holding facility in Delta where they continue to be evaluated and closely monitored by the on-site veterinarian. The driver was not injured. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
(BLM Gather Report)

We hope that the remaining horses continue to do well and there are no further deaths or complications as a result of this crash.

Once this roundup is completed, approximately 110 wild horses will remain in the HMA, as well as 122 wild horses left uncaptured outside of the HMA. This roundup is expected to last up to 19 days.

Livestock grazing in this area? Yes. Mining in this area? Yes.

You may follow the daily reports for this roundup here:
Roberts Valley Wild Horse Roundup (Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Daily Gather Reports to read detailed comments.)
Roberts Mountain Complex information hotline: (775) 861-6700.

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

*Featured/Spotlights

Urge Park Service to Preserve Horses in Teddy Roosevelt National Park

October 13, 2023 Associate Editor

Previously we have asked you to submit comments to save wild horses in the Teddy Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). We are sorry to say, we have to ask you to speak up once more. Despite North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and the state’s Senator John Hoeven pushing to keep the wild horses, the Park Service is still pushing to remove the vast majority of horses or all of them.

TRNP, located in North Dakota, is dedicated in honor of President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt and his leadership in conservation policy. While these horses are not protected under Federal law and are referred to as “livestock,” they have been cherished cultural icons for decades. When Teddy Roosevelt was young, he visited the area and experienced the magnificence and beauty of the natural landscape which included wild bison and wild horses exhibiting natural wild behaviors — living in family bands, with stallions protecting their families.

The Park Service continues to propose to either get rid of all of the horses or allow only 35-60 — of the nearly 200 horses living in the area — to remain. The Park Service manages the Park for cultural and natural resources and claims to rely on public input for Park management. PLEASE SPEAK UP for these magnificent horses NOW — they truly are CULTURAL ICONS!

Please tell the Park Service the following (in your own words):

Preserving the Teddy Roosevelt horses MUST be a cornerstone of the Park’s livestock management plan, since they contributed to President Teddy Roosevelt’s wonder at the natural world, leading to his CREATION of the NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.
Horses have lived “wild” in TRNP for generations and MILLIONS of Park visitors cherish these animals as an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Badlands.
These horses must be managed to preserve natural behaviors just as Teddy Roosevelt would have experienced. He would have seen stallions protecting their families, foals with their mothers and aunties, and the entire repertoire of natural “wild” horse behaviors.
To protect the GENETIC HEALTH of the herd and promote its genetic viability, the minimum population should be 150 or more. By allowing the horses to use additional areas of the TRNP, the herd can – and should – be managed at a HIGHER MINIMUM POPULATION LEVEL.

Your voice makes a difference. Please submit your comments directly to the Park Service by clicking here. The deadline for submitting comments is October 25, 2023.

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

But now we have a two-pronged opportunity to get the protections needed.

Here is where we most need your advocacy — to convince Congress to schedule the bill for a hearing so it advances to the full House for a vote.

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