FBI Asked to Probe Calico Gathers

A Nevada wild horse advocate wants the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on grounds that the BLM unlawfully removed horses from the Calico Mountain Complex Herd Management Area. In February 2010, the BLM relocated more than 1,800 mustangs from the Calico Complex to long- term holding facilities. In December, In Defense of Anim
Share
Favorite
Close

No account yet? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

A Nevada wild horse advocate wants the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on grounds that the BLM unlawfully removed horses from the Calico Mountain Complex Herd Management Area.

In February 2010, the BLM relocated more than 1,800 mustangs from the Calico Complex to long- term holding facilities. In December, In Defense of Animals, ecologist Craig Downer and author Terri Farley sought a federal court order to halt the gather on grounds that long-term holding violates the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. The Act places wild horses and burros under BLM jurisdiction. The scheduled roundup took place after U.S. District Court Judge Paul Friedman declined to stop it.

In March, the same group asked Friedman to order the animals' return to the range alleging gathers violate the Act because they endanger the animals' lives. The Act protects mustangs and burros from harassment, capture or death. Friedman dismissed the case on grounds that plaintiffs did not have the legal standing to bring the suit. He also ruled the case moot because the Calico gather ended before the order was sought.

In a June 21 news release, The Cloud Foundation, a wild horse advocacy group, announced that Cindy MacDonald, publisher of the American Herds Internet blog, filed a complaint asking the FBI's Las Vegas Division to investigate the BLM. The complaint claims that the gathered Calico horses were not excess animals, and should have remained on the range. It also asks the FBI to prevent the transport, sale or adoption of the removed Calico horses

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Share

Written by:

Pat Raia is a veteran journalist who enjoys covering equine welfare, industry, and news. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her Tennessee Walking Horse, Sonny.

Related Articles

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

sponsored by:

Where do you primarily feed your horse?
326 votes · 326 answers

Readers’ Most Popular

Sign In

Don’t have an account? Register for a FREE account here.

Need to update your account?

You need to be logged in to fill out this form

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!