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 the BLM’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.

“Our contract veterinarian has collected blood and tissue samples that are now being analyzed,” said BLM Northern California District Manager Alan Bittner. “We hope to have the test results soon.”

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, the BLM suspended 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