The CYA Report is Here

Well folks….the CYA (Cover Your Ass) report is FINALLY here. You can read it for yourself on the park’s website: https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/nature/feral-horses.htm

The park CONVIENTLY gave us a list of ALL of the 179 horses that were brought in during their helicopter roundup. This list includes who got those lovely collars, who got hand injected with GonaCon, the mares who were released from GonaCon treatment and any notes about the roundup including horses that were injured.

They also CONVIENTLY gave us the list of horses that were NOT brought in for the roundup and if there was a reason why.

The last report they gave us was the LONG AWAITED list of who has received GonaCon and when, since 2009.

The problem with all of these reports is that the horses are all listed by the number system the park uses to identify the horses.

What does that mean?

If you do not have access to that numbering system, for the most part, this report means nothing to any of us. There are some organizations that DO have this information. I also DID email Superintendent Finley and Blake McCann and ask them for the number key.

You will be shocked at my response from Blake McCann:

“I will be out of the office until November 4, 2024.“

Are we SHOCKED that they dropped a report late Friday afternoon and then left for the week?

NOT ONE BIT!

What can we decipher from these lists?

EVERY mare in this herd has been treated with GonaCon.
2020 Filly Birdie, 2022 Colt Ace and 2023 Filly Piper – all passed away BEFORE the roundup.
The park stated that “During the October roundup, five mares were released from GonaCon treatment (not boosted), providing an opportunity for these horses to reproduce. These animals were selected based on their genetic diversity regardless of most recent GonaCon administration.” IF the roundup was to gather DNA, then how do they know NOW, which mares should be removed from treatment prior to analyzing all the DNA data?
There were 22 horses that were listed as NOT brought in. Those include the horses listed in #2 as deceased. Of the remaining 19, 13 were males and 6 were females. 7 of those horses belong to Georgia’s Boy’s band and his band was not brought in “due to band physical fitness and capability for travel distance”. Mare Kat never reunited with Flax’s band during or after the roundup, and is currently with Stallion Anzar’s band. That leaves us with 11 horses – ALL MALES – that were not brought in. So why NOT bring them in? – remember – the WHOLE backbone for the justification for this roundup was to collect DNA –(blood and hair samples) from ALL of the horses. 6 of these males have NEVER had DNA pulled, to the best of our knowledge. The males were not brought in because it seems like the purpose of this roundup was to hand inject the mares with GonaCon. This roundup was NEVER about collecting DNA, otherwise these horses would have been brought in.
The report also lists the horses that were hurt, but again that number code thing prohibits us from KNOWING which horses they are talking about!
In our previous meetings with Superintendent Finley and Blake McCann where we discussed this roundup, they repeatedly stated that they planned to HAND INJECT EVERY MARE with GonaCon. From the list they provided, it doesn’t state that they did. Are we supposed to believe what they said they were doing BEFORE the roundup or what they say they did AFTER the fact? This is why TRANSPARENCY BEFORE the action was so important!

So there you have it! The TRANSPARENCY we have ALL been waiting for – listed nicely in reports that we cannot read until we can crack the number code and reports that have left us with more questions than answers.

Again, CLEARLY – all we got today was Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s attempt to cover their asses. Is this their feeble attempt at being transparent? Are we TRULY supposed to believe that these reports are THE BEST that their highly educated and accredited staff can give the taxpaying public?

TRUE TRANSPARENCY comes BEFORE actions are done.

At the very least, be available to answer the questions you left unanswered! Doesn’t the tax paying public AT LEAST deserve that?

Apparently not. I would NOT expect anything more from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. They have checked the box off on this one. They have met all the criteria they feel they needed in their quest to be “transparent”. The sad thing is they fail to realize that they have NOT been transparent at all.

The time for TRANSPARENCY has passed. Theodore Roosevelt National Park needs to be held ACCOUNTIBLE for their heinous actions against the wild horses in this park!

We have 2 Calls to Action for you to speak up for the wild horses of TRNP and demand ACCOUNTIBILITY for their heinous actions.

This one is a petition to DEMAND that these collars come off OUR horses!

Please sign just ONCE and share!

https://secure.everyaction.com/x-5WrjPo20Cb4LGbj5PD-A2

This one is to send an email to elected officials DEMANDING TRNP be held accountable for their heinous actions against our wild horses!

You can send this as many times as you like! https://secure.everyaction.com/brPfquNQ2EqN-6XVh-16Rg2

Please share!

We also hope that you will consider making a tax deductible donation to help us with our critical advocacy work! You can make your tax deductible donation here: https://secure.everyaction.com/cBmDbRA6cUuzERpShcQOCg2

One response to “The CYA Report is Here”

Lisa Koll

October 25, 2024

Excellent commentary. Spot on. The only thing I would say is they intentionally were NOT transparent. You are giving them waaay too much credit saying they fail to realize they aren’t being transparent. I say this because of all of the deceitful things they have said and done after signing the contract for this helicopter roundup months in advance. They knew what they were going to do all along. We must find a way to prosecute, i m o.

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