Sheriff report: Loose livestock keeps deputies hopping

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office received the following calls for the week of January 20-26:

January 20: 10:07 a.m. – A man called to say his neighbor’s four horses were out and asked for her telephone number. Dispatch could not provide that information but called the owner, who said she was at work but would have somebody come retrieve them.

Later, at 9:39 p.m., another caller said their movement activated security alarm had reported movement on the family’s property due to the presence the same horses in the yard. Dispatch called the owner, who said her daughter was attempting to coax the horses back into their corral with hay.

6:50 p.m. – A deputy reported a disabled car on U.S. 310 near Deaver, stating that no one was around and coolant could be seen on the ground beneath the vehicle.

January 21: 9:40 a.m. – A neighbor reported the same horses out on Lane 5.5 near Deaver and said she was “tired of it.” An attempt was made to again contact the owner.

4:59 p.m. – Another neighbor said the horses were out again. The owner could not be reached, but a deputy arrived and placed the horses back into the corral.

January 22: 10:42 a.m. – A deputy checked on a vehicle with tire damage near the Georgia-Pacific turnoff south of Lovell but found that help had already arrived.

1:44 p.m. – A railroad conductor reported apparent livestock abuse near Cowley in the form of two emaciated horses. A deputy responded and discovered that the horses were just old and not retaining weight. A livestock investigator had also checked on the horses before the January 22 call.

January 23: 9:25 a.m. -- The horses were again out near Deaver. Contact was made with the owner, who was on her way to retrieve the horses.

4:07 p.m. – A caller notified dispatch that her Chevy Cruze had broken down south of Lovell on U.S. 310 and she was told by AAA that they couldn’t get to the site until the following day.

January 24: 3:16 p.m. – In a change of species, a “little brown goat” was reported loose along the highway west of Lovell near the Shoshone River bridge. Dispatch notified a deputy and the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

January 25: 4:35 p.m. – Two ponies were reported loose on U.S. 310 just west of Cowley. Sheriff Ken Blackburn took the call and returned the horses to their pasture.

January 26: 8:20 p.m. -- Some 15 horses were reported out at Lane 12 and Road 11.5 near Lovell. A deputy and a neighbor helped put the horses back onto their property.

Note: The above calls were received by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office. Persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and charges made upon initial arrest may be amended or dismissed as determined by the County Attorney.