According to horse advocates and eye witnesses, the Bureau of Land Management is warehousing wild horses from the winter Salt Wells roundup at the BLM's Rock Springs corrals with inadequate protection from biting wind and bitter cold.
No relief from wind and cold
In the recent helicopter roundup, over 668 mustangs were rounded up in the snow and cold and the mares and foals were corralled in the Rock Springs facility without shelter from the bitter cold and battering winter winds.
In the recent helicopter roundup, over 668 mustangs were corralled in the snow and cold. After being driven into traps, the stallions were shipped to a holding facility in Utah, but the mares and foals were corralled in the Rock Springs facility without shelter from the bitter cold and battering winter winds.
Since there is no way to get an accurate accounting of the number of foals and mares, horse advocates fear that the BLM will not be held accountable for the deaths of foals and horses as a result of the inadequate protections from frigid winter weather.
The Cloud Foundation is calling on Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, to provide information and weigh in on the situation. Many advocates are disappointed with the continued lack of attention by Jewell, despite continued criticism from Americans all over the country.
Lisa Friday, a Virginia horse adopter and advocate points out: "As adopters, we must have adequate shelter for our BLM mustangs. Why is the government not held to the same standard? It is long past time for a change."