Salt River Horses Update: Forest Service Withdraws Impound Notice

The U.S. Forest Service has announced its decision to withdraw the notice to round up and impound the wild horses that roam the Tonto National Forest along the Salt River. This decision, welcomed by advocates and political leaders, marks a significant victory for the protection of these iconic animals.

The announcement was made just days before the notice was set to expire. Forest Service officials had previously cited safety concerns in the highly-used area as the reason for the impoundment notice.

Last Friday, Congressman Matt Salmon sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, urging the Forest Service to implement reasonable, humane solutions to protect the horses where they live. This advocacy has been echoed by Arizona's political leaders, including Governor Doug Ducey and Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake, who support establishing long-term protection for the Salt River horses.

"While much work remains to be done and many details to work out, this is a very positive step toward protecting these horses, who are clearly valued by the public," said Suzanne Roy, Director of the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation). "It's wonderful when our elected representatives and government agencies listen to the will of the people."

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) had previously filed a federal lawsuit seeking an injunction to stop the Forest Service from rounding up the horses. They later dropped the lawsuit as a sign of good faith to continue negotiations with the Forest Service.

For more details, visit the original article by ABC 15.