Hello and Happy Thursday! Following is a copy of the email I sent to Superintendent Richman today. Please make sure you take a moment to speak up for Alluvium, even if you have before. There was a trailer at the catch pens today. It would appear they are working on trailer loading him for his removal. You can take action here: https://secure.everyaction.com/4bIr7BLQ60SHxHhJLAI_-Q2

You can also view the videos mentioned in the email here:

These videos are of a bison in the horse round up camp clearly being repeatedly aggressive with the horse that she claims Alluvium caused to buck.

Just for those of you just learning about this:

Alluvium is a 5-year-old bachelor stallion in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park captured him sometime around the middle of May when they stated that he was being a “nuisance” to people camping in the park with their horses at the horse camp. This area is NOT fenced in any way and wildlife in the park can pass freely through there. As you can read in the email we sent to Superintendent Richman today, the park’s narrative about Alluvium seems to be different from people who were camping at the horse camp when Alluvium was captured.

Superintendent Richman ~

I have not received a response from my last email regarding 2019 Stallion Alluvium.  I shared in my last email, the people you claim Alluvium was harassing, stated they did not see him as a nuisance and absolutely did not want him to be removed from the area let alone the park.    Requests for the report that was filed that caused Alluvium to be captured also have not materialized.  Instead, I am being told that I have to use the FOIA process to get those records, if they exist.

Since the visitor did not make a complaint, why was Alluvium removed? 

We have also had other people from the campground during that time tell us that he was not a nuisance to them either. 

Even more disturbing, are the attached videos, taken by the owner of the horse that bucked, of a bison, CLEARLY and REPEATEDLY charging at the horse you were so concerned about Alluvium possibly harming.  The people at the camp stated that they were actually afraid of the bison.  When was or will this bison be captured?  He was very aggressive to their horse, and they believed he could harm them or their animals. 

It is clear that the horse was actually spooked by the bison.

These people have also stated that when they ride their horses in the park, they understand that it is at their own risk.  They know that the park is home to wild horses and other wildlife.

Since we know that this aggressive bison was NOT captured or at risk of losing his freedom, even though this group was very intimidated by his actions, we are once again requesting that Alluvium be released back into his home.  You have over 1,000 similar requests from the tax paying public AND the people you were concerned Alluvium would harm, all asking that he be returned to his home and remain wild and free.

Alluvium has been sitting at the capture pens since about the middle of May.  In addition to the ridiculousness that continues to unfold around the narrative you are feeding the public, it is just plain cruel to continue to hold this horse, without any means of finding shelter, when he is no more a threat to anyone than that bison at the horse camp was.

After more than a month, the  public also has not received any word on what the park’s plans are for Alluvium.  When will he be placed on GSA Auctions?  Have any tribal partners expressed an interest in Alluvium? 

Once again, I will ask when the park will begin working with the public, as Senator Hoeven’s office stated you would. 

Freeing Alluvium would go a long way in helping us believe that park management is actually willing to work with the public.

I look forward to your response. 

Christine Kman
Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates
http://www.chwha.org 

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