The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to investigate the deaths of 19 wild horses at its Cañon City Wild Horse Inmate Program facility.

To date, 19 horses have died and 9 other horses have shown some signs of a neurologic problem causing weakness, incoordination (ataxia), or seizures. No animals have died since Dec. 4 and no new cases have been reported since Dec. 5.

Several horses that exhibited symptoms earlier in the week have shown marked improvement and now appear to be recovering. With just over 2,000 horses and 400 burros at the facility, the illness remains confined to just one pen containing 110 horses.

Although the exact cause of the problem remains unknown, the BLM is still working with local, state and federal veterinarians as well as pathologists at Colorado State University to diagnose the illness. Six animals have been necropsied, but so far, the general results of those examinations have been inconclusive. Samples taken from animals at the facility and from those animals autopsied are still being examined