Ginger Kathrens attends National BLM Meeting

Volunteer Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation, Ginger Kathrens, attended the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting in Las Vegas on December 11, 2006 and reports that BLM currently holds over 30,000 wild horses in captivity, more than the estimated 27,000 in the wild. Here are the sad statistics reported by BLM’ Lili Thomas of the Program Office in Reno:

Short Term Holding -
8539 Wild Horses
216 Wild Burros
10,655 Total (Capacity is 12,595!)

(6342 0-4 year old Wild Horses
965 5-10 year old ”
800 11 and older ” )

Long Term Holding
2662 0-4 year old Wild Horses
9263 5-10 year old “
7551 11 years and older “
19,476 Total

10,327 gathered in 2006
9,187 Horses
1,673 burros

5172 Adopted 2006

Over 30,000 are held in captivity--more than live free in their home ranges.

BLM and the Advisory Board (which purports to represent all segments of the American public), couldn’t resist patting themselves on the back for nearly reaching AML (Animal Management Level). For the vast majority of mustang herds reaching AML means that they will not meet the minimum standards for maintaining genetic diversity. They are vulnerable to inbreeding and a slow die out.

“As long as there are mustangs on our public lands we will keep up the fight,” Ginger stated during the public comment period at days end. In January, The Cloud Foundation will unveil our strategy to preserve Cloud’s herd and all the other herds who still live free. This will include continuing to press that our lawsuits be heard in court against BLM and the Forest Service in the Pryors of Montana as soon as possible, as well as the suit against BLM in West Douglas Creek on the Western Slope of Colorado. We will combine this with an all out effort to communicate the plight of our mustangs to the new Congress.

The Cloud Foundation wishes to thank all of you for supporting our battle through your generous donations. We are also assisted in our efforts by Front Range Equine Rescue, located near Colorado Springs. FRER is a valued partner in fighting for America’s wild horses.