Associated Press
 
November 17, 2008
 
RENO, Nev. -- A government official says the Bureau of Land Management will shuffle money to maintain its wild horse and burro program for the current fiscal year, delaying a proposal to euthanize large numbers of animals to control populations and costs.
 
BLM Deputy Director Henri Bissson, speaking today to the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board in Reno, said the delay will give interested parties time to devise options when "cooler heads prevail."
 
But he says tough decisions remain.
 
Agency officials in June proposed considering euthanasia and unrestricted horse sales for possible slaughter because of escalating costs of caring for wild horses taken from the range.
 
About 33,000 mustangs roam the open range in 10 Western states, including Oregon.