A Bureau of Land Management contractor’s helicopter pursues wild horses during the a 2017 roundup southwest Wyoming. RTF file photo by Steve Paige.
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations for three open seats on the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board.
Members serve three-year terms and are chosen to represent nine areas of expertise. The open seats are for wild horse and burro advocacy, veterinary medicine and public interest.
Board members are selected by the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, which oversee the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest service, respectively, the agencies that manage wild horses and burros on federal land.
The advisory board does not control policy. Rather, it meets one to four times annually to provide advice to the BLM and U.S. Forest Service on wild horse and burro management.
The advisory board has traditionally leaned toward livestock interests. At its last two meetings, in 2016 and 2017, all but one of its members – Ginger Kathrens of the Cloud Foundation, who represents humane advocacy — voted to recommend that the BLM euthanize healthy unadopted wild horses and burros.
The BLM is in the process of renewing the advisory board’s charter, which is set to expire July 25.
Submitting a nomination
Any person or individual can nominate one or more people to serve on the board. Federal and state employees are ineligible to serve.
Nominations must be postmarked by May 26.
Members are to be chosen based on their education, training or expertise.
Board members are to represent: wild horse and burro advocacy, wild horse and burro research, veterinary medicine, natural resources management, humane advocacy, wildlife management, livestock management, public interest (with special knowledge of equine behavior), and public interest (with special knowledge of protection of wild horses and burros, management of wildlife, animal husbandry, or natural resource management).
Board members are reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses but receive no salary.
Those interested in serving must submit a resume and nomination letter that includes: the position(s) for which the nominee wants to be considered; the nominee’s first, middle, and last name; business and home addresses and phone numbers; e-mail address; present occupation/title and employer; education (colleges, degrees, major field of study); career highlights; qualifications: relevant education, training, and experience; experience or knowledge of wild horse and burro management; experience or knowledge of horses or burros (equine health, training, and management); and experience in working with disparate groups to achieve collaborative solutions.
Applicants must also indicate any BLM permits, leases or licenses held by the nominee or his/her employer; whether the nominee is a federally registered lobbyist; and explain why the nominee wants to serve on the board. Also, at least one letter of reference from special interests or organizations the nominee may represent must be provided.
Nominations may be submitted to dboothe@blm.govor by mail to: National Wild Horse and Burro Program, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street, N.W., Room 2134 LM, Attn: Dorothea Boothe, WO-260, Washington, DC 20240.
Nominations sent by FedEx or UPS should be mailed to: National Wild Horse and Burro Program, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 20 M Street, S.E., Room 2134 LM, Attn: Dorothea Boothe, Washington, DC 20003.