Protests have broken out on Mount Charleston after the U.S. Forest Service removed eight wild horses. Residents gathered at Lee Meadows to call for a stop to further roundups and for the agency to follow the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. One of the organizers, Cheryl Abbate, said, "We want updates. We want photos of where are the horses now and what kind of facility are they being held in when they're moved off the mountain," as per KTNV.
Residents are divided on the issue. Some consider the horses a welcome part of the area, while others see them as a concern. According to 8 News Now, Mt. Charleston residents Jim and Sharon Payne have different opinions. Sharon said, "I’m upset because I love them being here." Her husband, Jim, expressed concern about safety, saying people are getting too close to the animals.
The issue of wild horse roundups has reached the federal level. Congresswoman Dina Titus said she is "Deeply troubled by the recent roundups." Demonstrators are asking the public to contact U.S. Representatives Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee, along with Senators Jackie Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto. They are also calling for work with certified wild horse sanctuaries and more public education on how to safely live near wild horses. Some residents have raised concerns about communication, with Sharon Payne saying, "It’s never a clear time frame and we’re never told at the meetings exactly when things will happen." 8 News Now reported that it contacted the USDA for details on how many horses were removed and why, but has not received a response.
