Horses to Remain Pending Appeal

The herd of horses roaming wild on Santa Cruz Island will be allowed to remain for at least a few more months until a federal appeals court decides their fate. The National Park Service and some of the island’s former owners contend that 15 horses stand in the way of a plan to restore the island’s natural habitat and are seeking to bring them to the mainland. But the Santa Barbara-based Foundation For Horses and Other Animals has sued the park service and the former owners’ family to stop the move. They maintain the animals are no danger to the environment and have historical and scientific value. A federal court judge ruled in favor of park service officials last year, giving them the right to remove the horses. The foundation appealed the decision, however, and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court issued a temporary stay of the lower court ruling. On Thursday, the court decided to extend that stay until a June hearing on the appeal.