Feds say postponing wild-horse roundup in Calif., Nevada will do more harm than good

Feds: Postponing CA-NV roundup will harm mustangs

RENO, Nev. — Federal land managers in California and Nevada are awaiting a ruling on whether they can round up about 2,000 wild horses despite critics’ claims the mustangs have a legal right to remain on the public range.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is expected to rule Tuesday on an emergency stay sought by horse protection advocates.

They are seeking to block the roundup scheduled to begin Wednesday about 120 miles north of Reno.

Justice Department lawyers representing the Bureau of Land Management say the herds there are overpopulated, in some cases four times more that the range can sustain over the long run.

They said in a filing Tuesday that postponing the roundup would do the horses more harm than good.