It's a showdown between the small town of Gardnerville in Nevada's scenic Carson Valley and the federal government over the fate of the Fish Springs wild horses -- a locally cherished mustang population.  

In less than two weeks, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends begin trapping 70 of these beloved horses and will permanently remove 44 of them in action that will shatter the families of Blue, Samson, Zorro and the other stallions on the Fish Springs Range.

The community is up in arms – over 300 local residents packed the firehouse on July 12 to speak out in opposition to the planned removal. Local businesses and the ranch that holds the permit to graze cattle on the public lands where the horses live have all spoken out. 

The community group that manages the horses with fertility control – at no cost to taxpayers -- has submitted a proposal that would save taxpayers $1.5 million and leave the wild horse families together in their home on the range.

When he started his job as Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke promised to” restore trust by working with, rather than against local communities” by  “being a listening advocate rather than a deaf adversary.”

But his BLM is turning a deaf ear to the wishes of the local community to preserve the Fish Springs horses. It's time to make him listen!