Fort Polk officials investigate mysterious shooting deaths of five horses in military training area

5years ago

The military has begun an investigation after Fort Polk officials found five horses shot to death in Peason Ridge, a military training area.

The animals were found in a forested area near the western Louisiana Army base. At the time of the shootings, no soldiers were training there. However, the area are frequented by hunters, according to Fort Polk public affairs officer Kim Reischling.

In 2016, Fort Polk officials estimated nearly 700 to 750 so-called "trespass horses" occupied U.S. Army training lands on Fort Polk. According to animal advocates, generations of horses have lived in that area for centuries. The army had ordered the horses removed and adopted out last year, an order that caused outrage among advocates.