A federal judge in Nevada has temporarily banned the Bureau of Land Management from using helicopters to gather many of the hundreds of mustangs targeted in a roundup that's already under way about 150 miles northeast of Reno.
The Associated Press reports U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben granted part of a temporary restraining order late Wednesday. Horse protection advocates who sought the order say the BLM's own rules prohibit helicopter roundups during foaling season.
McKibben says he'll allow the activity to continue in the southern half of the Jackson Mountains because BLM has proven there's an emergency due to drought. But he says that emergency doesn't stretch to the northern half of the gather area covering hundreds of square miles.
He says no helicopters can be used there at least until the foaling season ends July 1. (AP)
