AXTELL, Utah (AP) — Two hundred malnourished wild horses from Nevada's Cold Creek herd are now being nursed back to health in central Utah.
KSL-TV reports Bureau of Land Management official Gus Warr says the ongoing drought had created a hostile environment for the horses. They lived in hot weather conditions and didn't have access to food.
The horses are now being held in a private holding facility operated by BLM contractors in Sanpete County. Once the horses are deemed healthy, many of them will be offered for adoption.
Wild horse advocates have criticized the BLM for removing the horses to a remote private facility. But Warr says the move was based on the condition of the animals and a media tour of the facility was held Monday to alleviate public access concerns.