Well, I'm back in Nashville now. I got back Monday, August 2nd. I've done a few other things since my last post. For one, I wrote and submitted my current issue essay. I focused on how mustangs are effected by drought. I didn't want to write just about harsh BLM roundups, so with my aunt I though about other issues and we came up with the drought problem. Basically, I said that we obviously can't magically make it rain, but the BLM could establish man-made, long-term desert 'oases,' per say, so wild horses (and burros) would have a reliable water source even during a drought. I also said that before any roundups take place, the BLM should ensure that there is enough or slightly more than enough water at their facilities for all of the animals, and once they arrive the water is given to them gradually so they have enough water but not too much at one time. If the BLM did these things I think many mustang deaths in the wild and during roundups would be prevented. Also, there may not be a need to roundup mustangs in a particular area so they won't die of dehydration in the wild because they have enough water in the first place.
And... that was my essay. I also found a wildfire partner! Her name is Catrina... she has a horse at the same ranch Shelby is at.
By Friday, I am going to have written a press release and submitted it to the MHF and then to a magazine or something.
that's all for this week! Bye...
Samantha…I hate to put you on the spot but, I was a little disappointed by your reference to week 6 half way done. I hope that your dedication to the mustangs will last your lifetime. If people like you don’t protect the mustangs their lifetime will be cut short. It is a great cause that you have taken up and I know you will remain involved long after your twelve week commitment to the MHF is up. I have found myself going on line and looking up information about the mustangs a lot more since you started your blog. Yes, I know you can’t believe everything online but there is a lot out there that has opened my eyes.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote about the drought and perhaps there should be long-term oasis to provide water for the mustangs. I think that is a great idea. While I was surfing the web last night there was a picture of a mustang that has died from dehydration and in the background there was a lake that was fenced of where cattle were grazing on BLM land. There are plenty of people who believe that the reason the BLM is removing the mustangs is because of the policy of issuing public land grazing permits to cattle ranchers. The fewer mustangs that are out there the more livestock can graze. I wonder if there is a forage issue out there and the mustangs are being removed, why are the cattle allowed to remain ? Seems to me if they removed the cattle there would be plenty for the mustangs to eat. The fee the BLM and the Forest Service charged for grazing one cow and calf on public land for a month in 1966 was $1.23, today it is $1.35. Taking a mustang off the range and putting it in a holding facility so more cattle can graze does not make sense. It cost about $5.75 a day to feed and water a mustang at a holding facility. I think the tax payers are loosing out here.
Well, enough of my rambling. Keep up the good work… for the next six weeks and beyond.
I can understand how you feel about the halfway comment, but please know I only meant halfway done with the MHF youth employment program, not with my dedication to mustangs.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have heard about the BLM rounding up mustangs to give more room to cattle for grazing... I actually believe that that is one of the reasons they're rounding the mustangs up. I just didn't address this in my essay because I wanted to kind of pick one thing and focus on that. Also, in BLM statements it was said that a big reason mustangs died was dehydration before and after the roundup. Since I think there were probably a large number of essays written about the reasons for roundups and roundups themselves submitted, I decided to focus on something different. If the essays/ideas were actually taken into consideration by the BLM, which they probably won't be but it still doesn't hurt to think that way, I think that right now it might be more likely they would consider making changes less drastic than greatly reducing their roundups. Instead of making the BLM defensive by insulting everything they're doing and not giving them any credibility, I think that saying to them something like "you said you had a problem with this, and that's why most of these deaths happened. I have a potential solution for said problem" would get them to be more cooperative and open-minded and a good relationship could be formed. I think that yes, the roundups should absolutely be reduced, but in the meantime it would benefit mustangs have dependable water sources so they're stronger in the wild, and during and after roundups. ... anyways, enough of *my* rambling... ;)