Why a Resource Guide? Why Now?

Why these Contributors?

Sandra Sell-Lee, Director of Volunteer Programs, The Cloud Foundation 
 

After becoming educated in the complex issues that impact the long term welfare of our wild horses and burros, I observed the following:
 

• HOW THE BLM WAS MANAGING THE ISSUE OF HERD POPULATION GROWTH THE PAST 20 YEARS WAS NOT WORKING.
   

• THE SOLUTIONS ARE ALREADY KNOWN. Models of successful herd management exist in 5-6 herds. Volunteers from the local communities partner with their BLM field specialists to accomplish the task of controlling population growth with the use of reversible fertility control on the mares. Herd sizes are under control.
   

• ADVOCATES ARE IGNORANT OF SOLUTIONS. Thousands if not millions of Americans advocate for the rights of these herds to exist; most spend their energy complaining and railing against the government, but few know what to do to be part of the solution. 
   

• ADVOCATES NEED EDUCATION AND ACTION PLANS TO ENABLE AND EMPOWER THEMSELVES BECOMING PART OF THE SOLUTION.

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• WH&B VOLUNTEERS ALREADY WORKING WITH THE BLM HAVE THE NEEDED KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE, YET THEY ARE ISOLATED AND NOT EASILY IDENTIFIED.

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RESULT: The RESOURCE GUIDE which answers questions about how to manage wild herds on range, and to identify volunteer experts who are available to provide guidance and support.
 

PURPOSE:  CREATE A NETWORK OF KNOWLEDGE AND SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTS IN ONE PLACE  in order to spread the workable solutions across the entire BLM system of Herd Management Areas in the Western United States.

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Contributors (listed alphabetically): Jared Bybee, John Cline, Kimberly Frank, Linda Hanick,

TJ Holmes, Ginger Kathrens, Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick, Mike Paulick, Sandra Sell-Lee, Stella Trueblood, Dr. John Turner, Aleta Wolf, and many other BLM employees and citizen scientists who advocate for good management of America’s wild horses and burros.