Iredell County Animal Services said seven of the horses were secured by May 20, and a Wednesday update stated two more had been caught, leaving one remaining on the loose. “At this time, ICAS has not received any further sightings or reports regarding the remaining tenth horse since the initial incident,” officials wrote in a news release. “Animal Services continues to actively monitor the area, patrol potential impact zones, and respond to all citizen reports.”
The horses are believed to have escaped from a local property on May 11, according to officials. The Bureau of Land Management manages and protects wild horses in 10 western states and occasionally sells them for $25 each to owners who meet certain qualifications designed to ensure the animals will be cared for humanely. A local nonprofit assisting with the capture said the horses were likely purchased from the BLM in Monroe.
County officials said the owner of the horses, who has not been publicly identified, will be charged with failing to properly secure the animals and with failing to cooperate with capture efforts. No arrests had been made as of Thursday.