Dear Friends,
We have encountered the worst drought in South Dakota's history these past
nine months. We have had the warmest winter on record. Our rainfall last
year was equivalent to that received in desert climates. Our water dams
dried up and our wells began to go dry. Records show that this drought is
worse than the 30's when thousands of livestock died - Dust Bowl Days.
We are out of hay and funding and need your help! Would you consider
sponsoring a wild horse for $150 or any size donation to help us through
these next two months until our new growing season.
We are paying almost triple now for hay which has to be imported into our
area.
We are getting some rain now and we are hopeful for a better year! JUST TWO
MORE MONTHS until we have our growing season back!
Need to preserve our wild herds:
* We have ongoing studies with our three herds dating back to 1999.
* Two of our herds have not been disturbed with round-ups for more
than half a century. We can think of only one other herd on public lands
that could mimic our two herds - otherwise the 198 wild herds have been
rounded up repeatedly with intrusion into the social structures of the
herds.
* With our two herds, we are finding the same data that existed in the
late 70's that the National Academy of Sciences had found on the wild herds
at that time. This information shows decreased fertility rates(10-12%) and
that fillies are not bred until they are four and five years old. We also
see that the fillies remain in their natal bands often for that length of
time. (White Sands Herd and the Gila Herd)
* Our third herd shows us what happens when there is intrusive
roundups and removal of the older horses - removing the members of the herd
with the greatest wisdom for survival. This herd is what I term
dyfunctional and fertility rates are over 20% with a recrutiment rate at
about 20%. Yearlings and two year olds are bred and band structures are not
stable. (Sheldon Catnip Herd)
* The functional Gila herd is extremely rare and had been isolated in
AZ for hundreds of years. Blood typing shows they are Spanish and we
believe that they are descendents of stock from Father Kino's mission in the
1600's. This herd would have gone to slaughter had ISPMB not intervened on
their behalf to get recognition as a "wild free-roaming herd" in the mid
90's and then finally two years later, the herd was eliminated from its Herd
Area by the BLM. ISPMB adopted the horses in 2000.
* We are developing a model management program to share with federal
agencies who manage wild horses and to develop an eco-tourism center to
raise the awareness of the plight of wild horses in our country - a new
paradigm in wild horse management.
About ISPMB:
* Responsible along with our first president, Wild Horse Annie, for
the passage of the 1971 law to protect wild horses.
* ISPMB adopted out foals of the Pryor Mts in 1968 giving the idea of
an Adopt A Horse program to the BLM which started in 1976.
* Began the volunteer compliance checks on adopted wild horses by
signing an agreement with the BLM in 1989
* Began the first educational programs in 1984 prior to wild horse
adoptions with classes and demonstrations.
For more info click here http://www.ispmb.org/achievements.shtml
PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING US BY SENDING YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO THE
ADDRESS BELOW OR CLICK ON THIS SITE: http://www.ispmb.org/drought.html
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US CONTINUE OUR CRITICAL WORK TO SAVE ENDANGERED AND
THREATENED HERDS.
Karen A. Sussman
President, ISPMB
PO Box 55
Lantry, SD 57636-0055
Tel: 605.964.6866
Cell: 605.365.6991
Saving America's Wild Horses and Burros since 1960
www.ispmb.org
Become a member of ISPMB today!
http://www.ispmb.org/membership.shtml
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