BLM Investigates Cause of 22 Wild Horse Foal Deaths

SUSANVILLE, Calif.– The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is collaborating with veterinarians to uncover the cause behind the sudden deaths of 22 wild horse foals. These foals fell ill last week while housed at theBLM’s Litchfield Corrals near Susanville, as reported in a recent news release.

The illness has been confined to foals isolated in a single pen, with no signs of sickness in the remaining corral population of approximately 300 horses.

Wranglers at the corrals first observed flu-like symptoms on Monday, October 2, in a pen of 4- to 5-month-old horses. The symptoms rapidly spread, leading to the foals' deaths later that week. Consequently, theBLMsuspended adoptions of the foals upon detecting the illness.

The affected foals were born at the corrals to mares gathered last September from the Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory on the Modoc National Forest.

Originally posted by Herald and News