DECEMBER
2000
30 WILD HORSES SHOT TO DEATH NEAR ROCK SPRINGS WYOMING
JANUARY
12 2001 DEAD HORSE COUNT NOW 34
JANUARY
16 2001 DEAD HORSE COUNT NOW 37
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
(BLM) PHOTO BY THOR STEPHENSON
BLM WILD HORSES FOUND DEAD
Ten wild horses have been found dead on BLM public lands about
30 miles northeast of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Preliminary investigation
reveals that the horses were shot. According to BLM Rock Springs
Assistant Field Manager Bernie Weynand, "The horses are spread
out over several hundred yards. From the condition
of the animals and ground conditions after recent snow storms,
it appears that they were killed during the past few days."
Weynand continued, "We received the report of the dead horses
on January 2 and began the investigation. One badly wounded horse
was still alive and was destroyed by investigators."
In a prior incident, on December
15th, 2000, the Rock Springs Field Office received a report of
four dead horses north of Rock Springs near the same area. In
addition, the Rawlins Field Office has confirmed that one
wild horse has been shot northwest of Baggs. These are all currently
under investigation. BLM Wyoming State Director Al Pierson commented,
"This kind of senseless act is disgusting to me. These incidents
will be fully investigated, and if determined to be criminal acts,
we will prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the
law."
In 1971 Congress declared
wild horses to be living symbols of our historic and pioneer spirit
of the West; they contribute to the diversity of life forms on
our public lands. Wild horses are protected under the Wild-Free
Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. There are over 6,000 wild
horses in Wyoming. Killing wild horses is a federal crime and
violators may be fined up to $2,000 or imprisonment for not more
than 1 year, or both, for each violation. Anyone with information
about the Rock Springs incident is asked to call
BLM Law Enforcement Rangers.
In Rock Springs call (307) 352-0214
or in Rawlins call (307)328-4200.
Contact: Mary Apple (307 328-4329)
Mike Brown (307 352-0212)
ADDITIONAL WILD HORSES FOUND
DEAD
The Bureau of Land Management reports that additional wild horses
have been found dead on public lands managed by the Rock Springs
and Rawlins Field Offices. An additional 16 wild horses in the
Rock Springs area and three horses in the Rawlins area were reported
dead on January 8. This brings the total number of wild horses
found dead in the last month to 30 in Rock Springs and four in
Rawlins. All of the wild horses are believed to have
been shot.
The three wild horses found January 8 in the Rawlins area were
located northwest of Rawlins in the Stewart Creek Herd Management
Area. The 16 wild horses in Rock Springs were found north of the
city. The BLM is investigating the incidents. Several humane organizations
are offering a $10,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons
responsible for the wild horse deaths. Anyone with information
about the deaths is encouraged to call the BLM law enforcement
officer in either Rock Springs
(307/352-0214) or Rawlins (307/328-0211).
Under the Wild, Free Roaming Horse
and Burro Act, any person who
maliciously causes the death or harassment of any wild free-roaming
horse
or burro shall be subject to a fine of up to $100,000 and/or not
more than
one year of imprisonment, or both, per violation.
-BLM-
THIS PRESENTATION
BY THE CONSERVANCY OF THE PHOENIX INC
TEXT
AND PHOT0 PROVIDED BY BLM
