WINNEMUCCA — The Humboldt County Commissioners suggested a new tour for singer Sheryl Crow, but not the kind with luxury buses and first-rate accommodations.  This tour would be to an area north of Gerlach where the rangeland has suffered from seasonal wildfires, an ongoing drought, and the overpopulation of wild horses.

The singer has been critical of a BLM decision to gather wild horses from the area and keep them at a facility near Fallon.  Crow is reported to have said the gather is “inhumane … and must be stopped.” 

Supporting the gather were the Humboldt County Commissioners who held a special meeting to issue a letter of support to Gene Seidlitz, BLM’s District Manager for the Winnemucca District.  Seidlitz was on hand to receive the letter and update commissioners on the gather.

During the meeting Commissioners expressed their frustration at the lack of understanding by members of the public who are willing to speak out without a full grasp of the situation.

Commissioner Chuck Giordano suggested a “30-day real life in the desert school” for Sheryl Crow and other celebrities.  He commented, “She would have a different attitude if she had more information.”

Seidlitz said if Sheryl Crow wanted to see what the issue was all about he’d arrange the tour – so long as it didn’t turn into a media circus that would interrupt the work of the agency.                

Seidlitz said it’s important for the public to understand the goal is to create an ecologically-balanced rangeland, one that could support not only the wild horses but all the wildlife that lives there. 

Giordano said, “We locals understand that.  It’s the ones doing all the talking that have the media behind them who don’t understand.”  To which Commissioner Mike Bell added, “Nor do they want to. They’ve taken a position without any knowledge.

Board Chairman Tom Fransway responded to Seidlitz and said, “You have an obligation to manage (the wild horses), and I believe that’s what you’re trying to do.  We don’t want to see an emergency situation this winter; no one wants to see those animals freeze to death or starve to death.”

Also addressing the Commission was Brad Bauman, a wildlife biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, who also expressed support for the wild horse gather.  He remembers the winter of 1993 that saw a 30 percent fatality rate due to lack of resources.  Bauman commented, “We’re setting ourselves up for a similar situation.”

The gather will be conducted  by the BLM starting December 28 – unless opponents are able to engineer another delay.

The letter of support from the Humboldt County Commission to the BLM is featured below.

December 8, 2009

Gene Seidlitz, District Manger

Winnemucca District Office

Bureau of Land Management

5100 East Winnemucca Blvd.

Winnemucca, Nevada 89445

Dear Gene,

Humboldt County is aware of the proposed gather of approximately 2,500 head of excess wild horses in the Calico Complex, which includes five Herd Management Areas. Several of the areas are within Humboldt County. We are also aware that at the present time this complex has approximately three times the upper range of the appropriate management level for wild horses.

The competition for forage and water from wildlife, wild horses, and livestock places all three in danger if action is not taken in a timely manner. It is imperative that the proposed gather go forward as planned to avoid adverse weather, which would only put further stress on the resources and the horses. If the gather is not completed prior to the birth of new foals in the spring it is our understanding that the heard size would increase by approximately another 800 animals. With the level of horses exceeding the appropriate management level at present the increase would only make the problem worst.

Humboldt County strongly encourages the BLM to conduct this gather, as planned, to address a serious problem not only for the resources in this area, but also the health and welfare of the horse population. Without a reduction in the number of animals we would expect to see the death rate increase and we don’t believe that is the desire of anyone concerned.

Sincerely,

Tom Fransway, Chairman

Humboldt County Commission