(The News As We See It) by R.T. Fitch ~ President of Wild Horse Freedom Federation
Nameless Editorial Author Shows Ass
“We try our best not to promote stupid, hence we have not written about “Slaughterhouse” Sue Wallis as of late, but every now and then a written piece of trash blows by that just screams out for attention and this morning one blew in with a gust of smelly air from Lake Havasu City, AZ. An editorial was printed, without even giving away the author’s name for good reason, that placed the blame for a burro‘s death in an auto collision squarely upon the ‘invasive’ burro…it shouldn’t have been there so now there is a need to get rid of all those potential impediments to traffic, forth with.
We are going to talk about the State of Texas’ war against the burros in Big Bend State Park a little later, but this article below just frosted me in the middle of two weeks without temps dipping below 100…it rankled me that badly. It kind of makes you wonder if they still teach reading in schools and compassion in the home…from an outsiders take, apparently not.” ~ R.T.
A couple of days ago, an article and photo in this newspaper described what happens when a burro and an automobile try to occupy the same space in the road at the same time.
The outcome was bad, damaging the vehicle, slightly injuring the driver and killing the burro. Anecdotally, these accidents occur quite a bit in the area, though this one was rare, in that it occurred just north of Lake Havasu City.
The car had every right to be there. Did the burro? It’s kind of hard to figure that one out, mostly because of federal policy on burros and wild horses. In one respect, burros are treated as a non-native invasive species, which they are. Yet they are also regarded — and managed — as a proud symbol of the American West.
It’s hard to have it both ways, yet that seems to be the historical approach by the federal government to both wild horses and burros. Funny, we don’t see that ambivalence toward other invaders, with the quagga mussel being a great example.
About a year ago, the Bureau of Land Management issued a new policy handbook on horse and burro management that aimed to set specific guidelines for 179 different herd-management areas. As best we can tell, the current law and policy is intended to balance the damage done by wild horses and burros and the need for healthy rangelands with policies that recognize the animals’ cultural importance to the West.
A BLM representative said it would like to eliminate the population of burros just north of our city.
That would be good, as would getting rid of a seemingly large herd on the California side of the Parker Strip.
Interior SecretaryKen Salazar proposed establishing preserves for wild horses and burros, a notion that has done little to settle the problem.
It may be awe-inspiring to watch a herd of wild mustangs race across the wide open desert of southwest Wyoming. It’s something altogether different to meet a burro on the hood of your car.
These collisions are yet another reason to aggressively seek to reduce these non-native species both on delicate lands and around population centers. The covered wagon is another proud symbol of the West, but it sure doesn’t belong on the roads.
— Today’s News-Herald
Click (HERE) to visit Rag and to Comment
Related articles
- BLM Employee/Contractor Publicly Promotes Hunting Season on Wild Horses and Burros (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- BLM Boss Bob Abbey Plays Congress (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- No Independence Day for U.S. National Icons: Wild Horses and Burros (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Writing here with 1st AM coffee…I just read this from my email inbox and was going to comment later. ‘Cause, written stupid, stupid. Meaning, author is all over the place. Gibberish. (Or maybe I need more coffee:) OK>>>burro hit and on top of car expands to getting rid of all wild horses. Compares burros to mussels. Whaaa? And equating covered wagons with burros is another loooong stretch. Duh!? Ok. DOI/Salazar. Lets have all out war on Moose in Maine. Deer all over USA. Don’t forget the tiny squirrels and rabbits that just seem to wait for your car. Swooping birds? Yesterday I stopped for 10 geese crossing the road. Hmmm. The more I read from those pro-slaughter, the more I see that this faction of humans has no regard for any animal. Pro-slaughter groups are now waging an all-out war against ALL animals and animal welfare groups. Back to the Dark Ages. Stupid but Scary. And ((((SICK))))). Sick. Sick!
LikeLike
Bravo Ronnie! I/we stop for geese on the commute to work almost everyday. Its a sad sight for all of us when someone does not stop and we all have to live with the carnage. In Ohio we have deer out the wazoo and in Maine they have moose. If you don’t watch and stop you may pay the price as well as the animal. People need to SLOW down, be courteous, respectful and get along with all species. I know, I know. I’m preaching to the horse’s mouth.
LikeLike
Where do these people get the right to make these decisions these animals belong to the people, they are part of our heritage and not the big shot politicians that are on the take for the cattleman who want this land for there herds.These horses and buro’s where here first this is there land .Let the big shot cattleman buy his own land and raise there cattle on that land and quit stealing the plains for there own use and leave our Mustangs and Buro’s alone.
LikeLike
Don’t blame the whole city, our newspaper’s editors have always been asses, no pun intended. Those of us that have lived here long enough remember the burros knocking over our garbage cans at night and miss seeing them like we used to. Newer residents have know idea there were burros here and still are, what’s left of them. You can go to Facebook’s HavasuPioneers and see people reminiscing about the burros.
LikeLike
Terry, am I to understand that you live in the area? My understanding is that a fence was erected forcing these burros onto the road because their ancestral path to the river has been disrupted. Has an alternate route to the river been provided for the burro? Also, a simple thing called a streitor-lite http://www.strieter-lite.com/problems.html could help with these unfortunate incidents. Signage and a little responsible driving will also go a long way toward protecting these peaceful animals.
LikeLike
What a STOOOOOOooooooPID piece of editorializing!
The comments require registration and your first born. So, assuming the EDITOR DID IT….let’s give good old Ms. Becky an education and earful:
http://www.havasunews.com/about_us/
There is a blue link to email staffers. The editors name is Becky Maxedon.
Anyone noticed the spike in stupid, anti wild equine and pro HCHS op-eds and “news” lately? It’s got to be the Farm Bureau trolls, particularly the state level feeding this tripe to “friends” at their local papers.
LikeLike
The truth is we are the intruders, the little Burro had every right to be there, he is a Grand part of the Wonderful wildlife that graces our planet, the carelessness of some car drivers is the menace………….I live in Ohio . what i would give to see a little Burro , we have squirrels, and deers in my neighborhood also another wonderful part of Wildlife, these beings are all a part of the Grand scheme of Life , they enrich our lives and show us that there is a more peaceful , less stressful part of life , a simple but very awesome part………………………….. without them we surely all would perish,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, If we cannot learn to preserve and protect them, we also are incapable of protecting ourselves……………. No book ever written , no pill ever developed can ever teach us what they all have to offer innocently without bias….. They are a world of Knowledge and it doesnt cost a dime to learn from……………….. We need to look to them, study them and in all cases our lives will be ever enriched……………..i pity the fools who cannot appreciate all of them…………..
LikeLike
OK, so when a human and a vehicle meet on the road and the human comes off worst, do we elimante all the humans in the state/country – just in case it happens again.
Some sub-humans are born without anything between their ears.
LikeLike
Ohh, the poor Burros. Hmm how fast do they run? If people weren’t driving so fast and like nut balls there would be a lot less accidents. AZ is a great state for some people to kick back, but the roads are something else. How about some Wild Life Crossing signs. I have been waiting for our officials to put Wild Life Crossing signs in an area by my house because the development has caused the animals to be confused. So instead of putting the signs up and reducing the speed, they got rid of most of the deer. What kind of idiots do we
have in these positions? Many have thought about getting a new commissioner for our area. Once they get in, they think that they are unstoppable. Many good posts on the blog. What will be next? When fires are started all over it is hard to focus on one issue. I have never heard of so many people who have no compassion or good will towards the animals. Has the Devil imported some of his demons?
LikeLike
This reminds me of the people I’ve been told about in my county hitting folks. One was in a hurry to get to class and the pedestrian was in the way. The other thought the person was a dog, in the street so blammo.
Getting really personal here this is the exact reason I chose not to have kids. When I was young enough this was a huge question to me that I had no answer for. I was not going to bring a child into this world without the skills to survive.
I read something like this and now I know for certain that all those years ago I made the correct decision. Sad as this is, thanks RT for the morning start. You just made my day.
LikeLike
Media Contact: Dana Lagarde, (512) 389-8175, dana.lagarde@tpwd.state.tx.us; Tom Harvey, (512) 389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.state.tx.us
Aug. 15, 2011
Texas Parks Seek Public Input on Recreation Plan
AUSTIN – What do citizens think of the park systems in Texas? What kinds of outdoor recreational opportunities do they want? The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is seeking input from local stakeholders about the future of park systems in the state.
“We want to know more about Texans’ recreational habits, what’s working and areas where we could improve,” said TPWD Recreation Grants Program Manager Dana Lagarde. “Citizen input is vital in our development of the Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan (TORP) for 2012-2017.”
Lagarde said survey results will help TPWD identify outdoor recreation needs and guide funding opportunities through the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund and other grant programs. Examples of activities to consider for local parks include nature trails, splash pads and ball fields. State parks such as Government Canyon and Garner have been able to add acreage thanks to public needs assessments like the TORP.
Anyone may complete the survey on the TORP survey website from now through Sept. 26.
———
On the Net:
•http://204.64.0.121/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=74ML7n4
LikeLike
There is a public comments meeting at the headquarters for TPWD in Austin on Aug. 24th at 2 pm. The committee will be meeting at 9 am to discuss 21 agenda items, which the public may attend, this will be followed by the comments section at 2pm. I will be there to discuss the burros at Big Bend Ranch State Park, and I could sure use some support, if any of you are in the area. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/
LikeLike
Deja Vu all over again. People move to the country and then complain about the wildlife. They drive country roads as though they were on the freeway. I have driven a country road on a daily basis for years. The road is open range in some areas and should be driven at 40mph…tops, especially at night. It is a narrow, two lane country road with not much shoulder on the side….nowhere to swerve without going in a ditch and it can be VERY dark at night. People bat along on that road at 60 plus mph, and get very irritated with anyone who prefers to drive slower. Within the past 15 years, there have been 6 fatal accidents on that road, one or two cows and two horses killed. Granted, the horses and the cows shouldn’t have been in the road, but just the slightest bit of caution and common sense might have averted those tragedies.
LikeLike
This sentence pretty much sums up the whole article:
“A BLM representative said it would like to eliminate the population of burros just north of our city”
LikeLike
And if that poor burro hadn’t been there, no doubt it would have been the car mfg. fault….
G-r-r-r-r-r….would like to be able get rid of the vermin perpetrating the anihilation of our wild ones….and I’m NOT prone to violence.
LikeLike
I would like to eliminate the population of BLMers. Find out their European roots and send them back. Maybe we should herd the cattle/sheep/horses over the Bering land bridge. The Native Americans and Eskimo people can leave too. If we go on foot, no wild animals will be hit by cars. I need a reality check-up.
LikeLike
Yikes, Ann…I respectfully believe you have gone a bridge too far.
Native Peoples? If they go, we would be first in line. As to the cattle and sheep…they would really have to go back by boat; the same way they came; over the Atlantic.
At least the equines and Native Peoples had the Bearing land bridge zillions on decades ago.
LikeLike
And equines were here before “us” AND the Native Peoples.
LikeLike
I posted the following comment to the Article’s comment section 2 hours ago. I has not been approved at this time: “If your publication is going to publish an editorial you should at least put a name to it. How could your publication get it so wrong? It is like blaming the child for running out in front of a car. You may want to know that the mules were roaming the desert long before roads were built. The only “right” the car had was reasonable use of the roadway. I’m happy it wasn’t a child featured in your editorial. Please try to do better next time.”
LikeLike
The editor’s name is Becky Maxedon….contact info is listed in a previous post on this thread.
Thanks for contacting them.
LikeLike
The burro population around Havasu City is listed as ‘Nuisance’ by BLM and they are ‘removed’ one or more at a time. They never say ‘we have x number of burros for adoption. What becomes of them? They are off HMA. I have never heard the whole progression from a burros point of view from capture, removal to… what exactly. I know some are adopted. Do any ever make it to LTH? I should thing they would but if not, Why not? The burros matter, too, BLM.
LikeLike
Mar, when the burros are not on BLM land the common practice is to shoot them.
I also was given information that a developer wants to put a casino in the area, and has enticed persons with Indian heritage to a housing development free of charge. What do you know of this? My source has said that this particular developer is trying to get the Indian creds to establish this casino. Any info you have would be appreciated.
LikeLike
I know someone with casino connections and I will ask if this is going on. You are likely right. Many new casinos are now smaller as they have a very hard time breaking even to start.
LikeLike
I’m glad I don’t live anywhere near that place! I have enough stupid people in my own city. Perhaps, those idiots that like to run into wild burros, & horses, need to retake their driving tests, or, better yet, have their driver’s licenses revoked or suspended!! It doesn’t matter if an animal is native or invasive, all life should be respected, the animal’s origin is irrelevant. Instead of “getting rid of” these innocent creatures, that just happen to “get in these people’s way”, get rid of the human offenders, they’re the “invasive” ones!!
LikeLike
The fact is that the burros are a returned native species and has been written about extensively by scientists. MacFadden, Bruce. 1992 Fossil horses: systematics, paleobiology, and evolution of the family Equidae. Cambridge Univ. Press, UK. 369 pages. Look at Figure 5.21 on page 112. This clearly shows the line of ascent leading to Equus asinus as originating in North America back in the Blancan and Pleistocene and including Eurasia and Africa during the Holocene. Also look at page 97 under the Asinus ascent. The Holocene epoch is a span of geologic time generally considered to cover the last 10,000 years of Earth history. It is the final epoch in the Cenozoic Era. It is characterized by warm climates and the expansion of man into the dominant life on Earth. So from the chart it appears the lineage leading to the burro left North America and went into Eurasia about 10,000 years ago and then about a little less than 5,000 years ago went into Africa. And, Hans Klingel Ph.D. thinks this entire ascent was the same species, a belief that Craig Downer wildlife ecologist, also believes. Evolution proceeds slowly especially in large relatively slow reproducing mammals like burros.
And Jay Kirkpatrick, Ph.D wrote: The genus Equus, which includes modern horses, zebras, and asses, is the only surviving genus in a once diverse family of horses that included 27 genera. The precise date of origin for the genus Equus is unknown, but evidence documents the dispersal of Equus from North America to Eurasia approximately 2‐3 million years ago and a possible origin at about 3.4‐3.9 million years ago. Following this original emigration, several extinctions occurred in North America, with additional migrations to Asia (presumably across the Bering Land Bridge), and return migrations back to North America, over time. The last North American extinction probably occurred between 13,000 and 11,000 years ago (Fazio 1995), although more recent extinctions for horses have been suggested. Dr. Ross MacPhee, Curator of Mammalogy at the American Museum of Natural History, and colleagues, have dated the existence of woolly mammoths and horses in North America to as recently as 7,600 years ago. Had it not been for previous westward migration, over the Bering Land Bridge, into northwestern Russia (Siberia) and Asia, the horse would have faced complete extinction. However, Equus survived and spread to all continents of the globe, except Australia and Antarctica
LikeLike
Wild animals of all sorts live among us now. Most of the time when driving at a reasonable speed we can avoid hitting them. In WV where I have spent some time this month, the deer are everywhere. We even had a mama black bear and her cubs exploring my brother’s garden a few yards from where we are staying. It was quite an honor to see them. One night we had three cub raccoons on the front porch. Thank goodness no food was out. There are squirrels, rabbits, everything. I have found cows lose in the middle of a valley in the road.
However, freaky things do happen. Years ago my 27 year old cousin was returning from a day of golf with a co-worker from a resort where they both worked. They were in a county where horsesmdo not have to be tethered. A farmer was leading one horse with a lead while a second was following behind. A coal truck drives mover the rise of the hill, sees the horses, and blows the horn so the farmer will know that he is behind him. Well, the following horse freaked out and headed right into my cousin’s windshield. Both the horse and my cousin died (internal imminence)—I hope immediately, but never wanted to ask. Sometimes things just happen, and it’s terrible. But no one around here ever called for changing the open fencing law, banning coal trucks from back roads, or keeping golfers from driving jeeps on July afternoons.
I do not think the members of the Department of Interior, the BLM, and puppet representative from Wyoming are worthy to be named for the humble ass. No, I think they are a little more reptilian.
LikeLike
Christie, I am so sorry for your loss, and I deeply appreciate that you shared this with us all. Well spoken, thank you.
LikeLike
This says it better than I can: FROM “THE ANIMAL MANIFESTO” by Marc Beckoff
Science is catching up with what many lay observers already know from living with animals ever day. This growing understanding can help us see and relate to animals as fellow subjective beings rather than as objects. I like what Australian Bradley Trevor Grieve writes in his book Priceless: The Vanishing Beauty of a Fragile Planet:
“For endangered species we are both their greatest enemy and their only hope. These wonderful creatures will not argue their case. They will not put up a fight. They will not beg for reprieve. They will not say good-bye. They will not cry out. They will just vanish. And after they are gone, there will be silence. And there will be stillness. And there will empty places. And nothing you can say will change this. Nothing you can do will bring them back. With so many lives hanging in the balance, the paths we choose today will decide the fate of the world. So it’s up to us. It’s up to you and me to decide who lives and who dies.”
LikeLike
Thank YOU Jade! I have “The Emotional Lives Of Animals,” by Marc Beckoff and TODAY will buy “The Animal Manifesto.” To us its a given that animals have all these qualities… But I remain in shock and such sadness, despair for the animals, that there are many humans who still only recognize animals as “that,” “it,” “JUST a dog, cat, horse, deer, wolf, rabbit… I would imagine that ANYONE who interacts with animals would know animals have cognition, reason, emotions…feel PAIN… But reading more and more from the pro-slaughter camp, too many feel animals do NOT feel. Are “objects.” TY again ~
LikeLike
This was posted in Steven Long’s HORSEBACK and needs to be addressed. Any takers?
From: Wildlife Society
Published July 22, 2011 11:36 AM
TWS Announces Final Position Statement on Feral Horses and Burros in North America
http://www.enn.com/press_releases/3790
Contact Info: Michael Hutchins, 301-897-9770
LikeLike
Last paragraph tells the whole story !!!!!!!!!!!!!! An organization who shows no revised date, and was formed in 1937. wheedles a hoard of inaccurate information not to mention outdated………….. Scientific information now would beg to differ on many of those inaccurate accounts…………………..
LikeLike
Christie, what a terrble blow that must have been to your family. Sometimes there don’t seem to be any words to help that kind of pain. I’m certain that everyone here, who read your post, felt your pain.
LikeLike
And Christie, I’m beginning to think you could be right. There are some on the planet that don’t appear to be “warm blooded” mammals. There is no compassion, empathy or emotion of any kind. What is one to think after witnessing such blatant, cold blooded cruelty as we have all seen happening at these round-ups?
LikeLike
Louie, There are so many w/o empathy, compassion, emotion…it is all about them and how they can control and hurt, cause pain in all ways. Having no conscience, they do-not-feel. We try to educate and convert, but many cannot be changed. The answer is in the federal courts and DC. A long haul as we all know. But gains ARE made. This is the way it goes w/Grassroots who eventually make historical changes. Thankfully, we have those on the ground documenting, filming. And we are growing every day. We fight on with tears behind the eyes…for we are blessed with the gift of conscience and care. Our sadness as we march on is to be embraced. Its ok to feel sad. Giving ourselves this permission lifts the heart and adds more strength ❤
LikeLike
Mustangs play growing role in hunt for Mexican smugglers
By Brad Poole | Reuters – 23 hours ago
WILLCOX, Ariz (Reuters) – Sturdy, highly strung mustangs from wild herds in the Rocky Mountains are playing a growing role as the U.S. Border Patrol takes its hunt for smugglers into the most rugged terrain on the Arizona-Mexico border.
The Tucson sector horse patrol took possession of six mustangs from Colorado this week, and is harnessing their sharp hearing, keen eyesight and stamina to track drug smugglers and illegal immigrants trekking up through areas so remote even all-terrain vehicles cannot reach them.
“They can get where ATVs can’t,” said Border Patrol Agent Robbie Allred, 28, after he put the horses through their paces on Friday around a corral at the 240-acre Kansas Settlement training facility near Willcox, Ariz.
“They can get where helicopters and regular agents can’t,” he added.
Arizona straddles the most heavily trafficked corridor for human and drug smugglers from Mexico, who frequently trek out into the wildest reaches of the high-plains desert and mountains in a bid to beat beefed up border security.
The mustangs, which arrived in Arizona on August 15 are among 32 the Border Patrol has bought since 2010 under the Noble Mustangs program, in which Colorado prison inmates break and train the animals to prepare them for sale to the public or other government agencies.
The strong, compact horses are particularly valued by Stetson and chap-wearing horse patrol agents as they are an ideal match for the forbidding wilderness south of Tucson.
“These horses, having grown up in that, are already adapted to that kind of terrain,” said Bobbi Schad, the Tucson Sector’s mounted patrol coordinator and one of the patrol’s most experienced mounted agents.
GOOD HEARING, EYESIGHT
Horses are playing a greater role in border security now than at any time since the Border Patrol was founded in 1924. There are 329 mounted agents nationwide, most on the southwest border with Mexico.
The Kansas Settlement is the center of operations for mounted Border Patrol training in Arizona. Most of the Tucson Sector’s 100-plus certified riders and 129 horses came through the training center, which became a Border Patrol facility four years ago after it was seized from a drug trafficker.
During training, the patrol’s mustangs are exposed to flapping tarps, aircraft and gunfire — from toy cap guns — to accustom them to police work in the cactus-studded wilderness, often miles from the nearest road.
The mustangs, which are picked in part for their stout legs and large feet, can also hear, see and smell better than their human riders. They often alert agents to illegal immigrants or smugglers who often try to dodge arrest by hiding under trees and brush.
“Intuitively, since they were born wild, these horses are more hypersensitive. A lot of times you watch your horse,” Schad said.
“At night, they learn to distinguish the sounds of a group (of drug smuggler or illegal immigrants) moving as opposed to cattle moving,” she said.
Working with the new arrivals from Colorado also requires adaptability, patience and an aptitude for a particular kind of teamwork on the part of agents like Allred.
“With a motorcycle or an ATV, you just have to push a button and it does what you want,” he says. “You really have to work with the horse.”
(Editing by Tim Gaynor and Greg McCune
Privacy | Legal | Help
LikeLike
Ronnie, I agree. There’s no point in wasting time on those that have no compassion. They either do or they don’t. Each will have to live with what they have done. We don’t have time for them. This planet is going forward and upward with or without them. I believe that we are in the middle of a huge paradigm shift and those of us here are part of that.
LikeLike
Paradigm , an example serving as a model; pattern. Just in case someone does not know what it means……………………
LikeLike
There is much evidence supporting the burro as a native North America species, but this is being ignored by the establishment for reasons that it doesn’t suit their agenda. this is a disgrace. But I am a great believer that the greatest truth will prevail concering all including burros.
LikeLike
More research from AMERICAN HERDS:
http://americanherdsxtras.blogspot.com/2008/01/burros.html
Wild Burros of the American West
2006 National Burro Status
A Critical Analysis of the Current Status of Wild Burros on Public Lands
Research & Statistics compiled by
C.R. MacDonald
It is interesting to note that during the public comment period of the Lake Havasu Draft RMP, a
comment was submitted regarding the need to reduce auto accidents caused by free-range cattle:
“Last year at least 20 dead cows littered the roadside. Serious accidents and injuries occured
from hitting the free ranging cattle”
BLM’s response to these public concerns was:
“The State of Arizona is an open-range state. As new roads are improved through grazing
allotments, the public needs to be aware that livestock may be present and should use caution.”
LikeLike