RENO, Nev. – A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Bureau of Land Management from rounding up wild mustangs in Nevada after horse protection advocates presented video footage they say shows wranglers repeatedly abusing mustangs with electric prods in violation of agency policy.
The same group, Wild Horse Education, won a similar restraining order in August 2011 after it caught video of a helicopter skid apparently illegally bumping an uncooperative horse in a roundup near the Utah line.
In this case, the BLM is accused of mistreating dozens of horses since the Owyhee roundup began in November near the Idaho line about 70 miles northwest of Elko.
Judge Miranda Du ruled Friday that the evidence she's seen so far warrants halting the roundup until she can schedule a hearing later this week.
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