US: Feral cattle roam New Mexico's wilderness, federal agents plan to hunt them

In the skies above the New Mexico wilderness, federal agents in helicopters this week plan to shoot and kill dozens of feral cattle, which officials say threaten protected lands and the public's safety. For the second year in a row, a last-ditch lawsuit by ranchers aims to halt the aerial extermination effort. The New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association and the Humane Farming Association are seeking a preliminary injunction against the federal government to stop the shootings, saying the practice is "cruel and inhumane" and runs afoul of state and federal laws. Gila National Forest Supervisor Camille Howes called the decision to shoot the cattle "difficult" but "necessary to protect public safety, threatened and endangered species' habitats, water quality, and the natural character of the Gila Wilderness." "The feral cattle in the Gila Wilderness have been aggressive towards wilderness visitors, graze year-round, ...