Fate of wild horses in hands of federal judge in Reno

RENO — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said Wednesday it doesn’t intend to round up any more wild horses from a big herd in Northern Nevada for at least two years.

U.S. District Judge Miranda Du indicated during a hearing in Reno she’s unlikely to grant a motion by horse advocates seeking a blanket prohibition on all roundups in the BLM’s Owyhee horse complex near the Oregon line.

The advocates say the roundups are illegal because the BLM has failed to provide documentation that the federal rangeland in question is overpopulated with the mustangs.

But Du said that with no roundups currently scheduled, there’s no basis to grant an injunction.

Another hearing was scheduled later Wednesday in a dispute over ownership of horses a Nevada tribe wants to sell at an auction for slaughter.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.