Judge blocks controversial plan to sterilize wild horses in Oregon

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a controversial plan by the Interior Department that would surgically sterilize wild horses in Oregon after animal rights groups filed a lawsuit. U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman issued a preliminary injunction on Friday that stops the Bureau of Land Management from moving forward with its plan to surgically remove the ovaries of wild mares in the Warm Springs Management Area of Hines, Oregon, according to court records. The judge's decision means the agency cannot proceed with the experiment until a final decision is made in the case. Not date has been set for the for that yet. The Animal Welfare Institute, American Wild Horse Campaign, The Could Foundation and others animal-rights groups had sued in September, claiming the government project was in violation of the First Amendment for not letting groups observe and document the experiment as well while also being in violation of a number of laws including the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act...MORE