Arizona Horse Management Suit Should Advance, Bird Advocates Say

The US didn’t adequately rebut environmental groups’ contention that the Forest Service failed to take steps to protect several endangered bird species in light of Arizona’s horse management plan for the Tonto National Forest, the groups told a federal court.

Five groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity and the Arizona Wildlife Federation, said the US’s motion to dismiss their lawsuit didn’t address their claim the Forest Service violated the Endangered Species Act by not implementing programs to address habitat degradation for the endangered bird species which will allegedly result under the state’s Salt River Horse Management Plan.

This lawsuit, ...