A U.S. District Court judge in Nevada declined to halt the contested Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup of wild mustangs from three herd management areas in that state, but issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) connected to the agency’s use of helicopters in wild horse gathers.

In July the BLM began gathering approximately 1,726 animals collectively from the Triple B, Maverick-Medicine, and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas (HMAs) and the Cherry Springs Wild Horse Territory, in Nevada. The agency said the gather was necessary to reduce herd populations so forage and water resources at each HMA are sufficient to sustain the animals residing there.

On Aug. 24 Laura Leigh, vice president of the Wild Horse Freedom Federation, filed a complaint and a companion (TRO) asking the U.S. District Court Nevada District to stop the gather on grounds that during roundups animals in holding facilities lack water, are inappropriately fed, and that helicopter pilots fly dangerously close to exhausted animals.

On Aug. 30 U.S. District Court Judge Howard McKibben declined to prevent the BLM from completing the gather, but issued a temporary restraining order banning any mistreatment of mustangs during BLM gathers. The order was connected to an Aug. 11 video of the roundup presented by the Wild Horse Freedom Federation, which reportedly depicts a helicopter striking a horse during roundup