BLM confirms six Bundy cattle died in roundup

The Bureau of Land Management on Monday said six cattle died in the roundup of Cliven Bundy’s livestock that culminated with the release of some 350 animals after a standoff between armed protesters and federal agents on April 12.

The BLM, which oversaw the roundup near Bunkerville, said four animals were euthanized and two died of unspecified causes. The four euthanized animals included a bull with Bundy’s brand, a cow with Bundy’s brand, an unbranded bull and unbranded cow, BLM spokesman Craig Leff said. The other two animals that died included an unbranded bull and an unbranded cow, Leff said in a statement.

The agency started the weeklong roundup because Bundy had not paid grazing fees since 1993, racking up $1.1 million in unpaid fees and other assessments. Bundy quit paying the fees in a dispute with the BLM over range restrictions meant to protect the threatened desert tortoise. The restrictions would have limited his herd to 150 cows, a level Bundy said is unsustainable for a ranch operation.

The roundup was on federal public land that Bundy has for years used for grazing. The BLM had obtained two federal court orders allowing the roundup. The agency released the cattle for public safety reasons after hundreds of supporters, including armed militia members from other states, went to the corral with firearms.

The BLM last week sent four certified letters to Cliven Bundy, which he hadn’t opened last week.

Leff said the letters “include public sale notices of the impounded cattle.”

“These notices provide Mr. Bundy the opportunity to buy back the gathered cattle, determined to be his,” Leff said in a statement. “These notices do not absolve Mr. Bundy from his trespass fees for grazing cattle on public lands without a permit.”

Leff didn’t answer follow-up questions from the Review-Journal about why the agency sent notices to Bundy to buy back cattle that had been returned to him.

After releasing the cattle, the agency said it would pursue administrative and judicial remedies. BLM officials have refused to elaborate on what those remedies will be.

Without offering specifics, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said last week that a task force was forming to address the situation. The Bundys have criticized the BLM’s use of “contract cowboys” to handle the roundup. They also said they found dead cattle buried in holes. Pictures of the dead cattle were posted on social media sites.

Last week, Leff said two bulls were killed because they posed a “safety hazard.” It’s unclear how much the failed roundup will cost taxpayers. Government contract records show the BLM inked a $966,000 contract in February for the roundup with Shayne Sampson of Sampson Livestock, based in Meadow, Utah.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Follow @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.