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Friday, June 28, 2013
BLM's Palomino Valley Adoption Center Dear Readers, I rarely post a BLM press release just as it comes to me. Today, I'm making an exception, but keep your skeptic's glasses on. Northern Nevada is in the midst of an over 100 degrees each day heat wave. Wild horse and burro advocates have repeatedly asked BLM to give the wild horses some shelter so that they can follow their natural behavior which is just like your's : SEEK SHADE WHEN THE SUN IS BEATING DOWN! Ever-responsive BLM communications person Heather Emmons tells me BLM installed sprinklers today in 3 large outside pens and 5 mare/foal pens on a trial basis to see if that will help cool things down. They're going to monitor them and see how the horses do with them. She also sent me a press release. I have repeatedly marked the BLM PRESS RELEASE as such because I have not been out to Palomino Valley to see these sprinklers for myself. Terri
Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center Installs Sprinklers to Mitigate Effects of Heat Wave
BLM PRESS RELEASE
Reno, Nev. – In expectation of continued
three-digit temperatures this weekend and to address public concerns,
the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Palomino Valley Center outside
Reno is installing sprinklers to three of the large, outside wild horse
pens and five mare/foal pens as a stop-gap measure to attempt to reduce
heat levels inside the corrals. BLM staff will observe how the animals
respond to the sprinklers, which could include avoidance, or chewing on
and rubbing against the sprinklers, which are foreign structures to the
animals.
BLM PRESS RELEASE
The use of shade shelters in corrals has been
considered and evaluated by BLM numerous times. Current policy is based
on the following principles:
BLM PRESS RELEASE
- Wild
horses and burros are accustomed to open environments and when their
nutritional demands are met, they do well against the natural elements,
including sun, rain, snow, and hot and cold temperatures. At Palomino
Valley, the animals are fed hay each day; mineral blocks are available
in each pen; and a continuous supply of water is available via automatic
waterers.
BLM PRESS RELEASE
- Open
corrals with plenty of sunlight have proven to be the best way to
minimize disease-causing organisms. The BLM's open corrals enable the
drying effects of the sun and wind to take effect. The corrals are
sloped to minimize the pooling of precipitation in the pens and to allow
it to channel to the exterior of the facility.
BLM PRESS RELEASE
- Due to
the temperament of the animals, the social hierarchy between the
animals, and their unfamiliarity with shelters, the BLM feels that
corrals without shelters are the safest approach. Shelters could create
a potential obstacle for animals running and playing in the corrals,
and cause significant injuries. The BLM has wind breaks and/or shelters
for sick animals. The “sick pens” do not have the same safety issues
because the animals are in a smaller area with limited pressure from
other animals.
BLM PRESS RELEASE
Weather conditions, as well as determining the most
appropriate way to address the needs of the animals, vary across the
country. What works well and is needed for a small facility in the
Midwest may not be necessary or work well for a large facility in
Southern California or Nevada. Each facility uses methods compatible
with local animal husbandry practices to provide the best solution for
maintaining the large numbers of animals for which the BLM provides
care. Nonetheless, plans are underway for the BLM to consult the
scientific research community to inform future options on this issue. BLM PRESS RELEASE
The Palomino Valley Center, located about 20
miles north of Reno, is the largest BLM preparation and adoption
facility in the country with a capacity of 1,850 animals. It serves as
the primary preparation center for wild horses and burros gathered from
the public lands in Nevada and nearby states. Visitors wishing to adopt
are encouraged to call the Center prior to arrival at (775) 475-2222.
Public hours for visiting are held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4
p.m. and on the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m.-noon. BLM PRESS RELEASE
Labels: BLM, heat wave, Palomino Valley, press release, wild horses Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 7:05 PM  
Comments: Seeing these animals in this pit...I know that right now, Palomino Valley is as good as it's ever gonna get, but there is something inherently wrong with first, forcing these animals out of their homes, then consigning them to a life of hopelessness and utter boredom. For all the money allocated to short term holding facilities for the 'care and feeding' of our horses and burros - over $3M a year for PV, if based on the current population - you'd think they might merit better than a flat expanse of hot, dusty bacteria-laden dirt and a single, inadequate trough per 'pasture'. Thanks for hangin' in there, Terri. Post a Comment |
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