BLM Environment Assessment Comment Period Ends-
Many Supporters Voice their Concerns

The Cloud Foundation would like to thank the hundreds of people who responded to BLM asking them to select the No Action Alternative and requesting that no animals be removed, or darted with drugs on Clouds home range in 2006. Many people asked for BLM to pursue a management plan that allows Nature to call the shots and to focus on range expansion into the legal, historic horse use areas within the Custer National Forest Service. Almost all people responding were concerned that the herd is small now and taking it down lower would cause genetic damage that could destroy the unique Spanish genetics of the herd and would impair their ability to survive into the future. We are unaware of anyone who supported bringing in outside wild horses to expand the gene pool once the herd starts to suffer genetic loss because it is too small.

Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director, submitted comments to BLM regarding their plans to remove 24 Pryor wild horses and dart all mares 11 and older with the infertility drug PZP this year with further planned removals in 2008 and 2010 and administering drugs through 2010. Valerie Stanley, counsel for the Foundation, also submitted detailed comments on the EA.