KBR Wild Horse and Burro News

  FWS / NPA WILD HORSES
SAMPLE LETTERS

Story date: March, 2000

Make your message succinct, polite and professional.

  KEY POINTS

Although current interpretations of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act do not include lands managed by the National Parks Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service, the overall intent of the act is clear.

The American public expects all agencies under the Secretary of Interior to respect and comply with the provisions of the Act.

Compliance with the spirit of the Act doesn't have to cost the Department of Interior a great deal of money. Agreements can be made similar to those made by the State of Nevada where qualified appropriate wild horse organizations can shoulder some of the responsibility for placing excess estray horses and burros, thereby relieving NPS and FWS of unreasonable costs and burdens associated with disbursing excess animals in a proper and humane manner.

A cooperative solution between the Department of Interior and wild horse and burro groups would be much more productive and less costly than a public campaign to strenthen the Act and force the Department to comply.

Remember to include your mailing address and telephone number on your message.

Here's a copy of my message. (It's probably wordier than what you would wish to use.)

Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of Interior
c: Donald Barry, Asst. Secretary Fish & Wildlife and Parks
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Diane Feinstein
Hon. Ellen Tauscher, California 10th District

Dear Secretary Babbitt:

I wish to inform you of increasing concerns among wild horse enthusiasts and advocates regarding the gathering and disposal of wild horses and burros by the National Parks Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

While the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act did not specifically include FWS and NPS managed properties in its description of "Public Lands," the intent of the Act is clear with respect to how Congress wanted wild horses and burros treated that fell into Federal jurisdiction. Wild horse and burro advocates take issue with the inconsistencies demonstrated by NPS and FWS; inconsistencies with the spirit of the Act as well as inconsistencies in practices within the agencies themselves. I am witnessing a growing public response to these issues and I strongly urge DOI to reconsider their current policies and become more in step with what the citizenry expects of them, or face the consequences of a grass roots movement similar to that which originally brought passage of the Act.

In contrast to FWS and NPS practices, the State of Nevada has developed a rational adoption program for excess estray horses and burros gathered on State lands. To avoid getting into a full scale horse holding and sanctuary business, they have executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association and affiliated organizations who will act as voluntary holding and adoption agents for the state. As a result, these state estray horses will enjoy most of the benefits provided wild horses under the Act with no significant additional burden being placed on the state.

As Federal agencies, FWS and NPS should as a practical matter develop agreements and procedures similar to the State of Nevada. If well planned and executed, such activities should actually decrease these agencies' costs in dealing with estray horses and may preempt a public effort to amend the Act to specifically include ALL federal lands.

The welfare of NPS and FWS horses and burros is a hot issue this year and it would benefit all parties for the Department of Interior to develop some broad and reasonable policies in this area as well as engage the credible established wild horse and burro organizations in putting their money where their mouths are and joining a collective effort to effectively and palatably deal with estray wild horse populations.

Very truly yours,

Willis Lamm,
(Address / phone)

  HOW TO TAKE ACTION

Write the Secretary of Interior and Assistant Secretary for Fish & Wildlife and Parks. Be sure to CC your Senators and Congressional Representative.

Email Addresses:

Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbit

Asst. Secretary Donald Barry

House of Representatives Directory

Senate Directory

Return to Sheldon-Hart page.

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