Major Removal Threatens Cloud’s Pryor Herd
BLM expands removal plan for young Pryor Mustangs
BILLINGS, Mont. (April 5, 2012)—Yesterday, BLM issued their Decision Record to permanently remove up to 40 young Pryor mustangs from their home in the mountains of southern Montana. The bait-trapping operation would begin no earlier than June 4th and could continue until September 30th.
“Surprisingly, the removal decision exceeds the level they outlined in their preliminary Environmental Assessment,” states Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation. “Regardless of the nearly 10,000 comments sent to BLM requesting they proceed with caution, BLM has significantly increased the number of young horses to be removed. So much for listening to the wishes of the American Public.”
BLM’s Preliminary Environmental Assessment issued in December, 2011, called for the removal of 30 Pryor Horses in the 1-3 year-old category. This final Environmental Assessment ups the removal number to as many 40 young animals–two thirds of the young population.
BLM reports that they received only 1,000 comments, although it is likely they received 10 times that number. More than 4,000 comments were generated by American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC) alone, but were only counted as one letter because they used “a sample letter or talking points provided from internet sites.”
Thousands of comments came to BLM, asking that Cloud’s look-alike grandson, Echo (Killian) be allowed to continue to live free on the Pryors. Although Echo could be removed based on age, BLM has acknowledged his rare color and genetics, and has ranked him as a horse to be removed only if they cannot achieve their target removal numbers.
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Media Contact:
Lauryn Wachs
617-894-6939
Links of Interest:
BLM Q&A on Pryor Bait Trap: http://on.doi.gov/HhwIpi
BLM 2012 Pryor Decision Record: http://on.doi.gov/HhwMpg
Final BLM Environmental Assessment: http://on.doi.gov/HhwLl4
BLM Sets Sights on Another Massive Removal in Cloud’s Herd (Foundation release): http://bit.ly/tFeuWZ
What is Bait Trapping? http://bit.ly/HhurdO
Stop the Fencing in of Cloud’s Herd – Foundation video: http://bit.ly/vO4kvw
Tags: BLM, Cloud, montana, mustangs, pryor mountains, wild horses
thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com 
April 6, 2012 at 1:29 am |
Thousands of comments came to BLM, asking that Cloud’s look-alike grandson, Echo (Killian) be allowed to continue to live free on the Pryors. Although Echo could be removed based on age, BLM has acknowledged his rare color and genetics, and has ranked him as a horse to be removed only if they cannot achieve their target removal numbers…………………ONLY if they cannot achieve their target…..Really, well isn’t that nice of them..Can’t say what I want but this is unreal.Again the BLM at work, they truly disgust me that they are taking any of these Pryor Horses, they should be ashamed of themselves..A Dark Cloud over their Headssssssssss
April 13, 2012 at 2:56 pm |
This is very disgusting to me that the BLM pays no attention to what the public wants for these beautiful horses. When will the insanity stop.
May 18, 2012 at 4:29 am |
I hate the BLM so much it makes me nauseated sometimes. This is WRONG….simple as that.
July 17, 2012 at 7:52 am |
We must continue to faxe,call or write our govmt.representatives and sign necessary petitions to stop this action. remember we still hold the power of our vote to recall and remove these officials/politicians from office…remind them of that if u like.