Nine Horses Found Shot Dead on Black Mesa Ranger District

Nine horses were found shot to death on the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache‑Sitgreaves National Forests, a discovery that has prompted a federal investigation and a call for tips from the public. The USDA Forest Service said, "All nine horses showed evidence of bullet wounds, indicating they were shot." Necropsies were completed and the carcasses were buried, the agency added.

Forest Service investigators are working alongside local law enforcement but have not identified any suspects or released a motive. The agency is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, and anyone with tips is asked to contact the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office tipline at 928‑524‑9908. The Forest Service news release carrying those details was last updated Jan. 29, 2026.

The carcasses were found somewhere on the Black Mesa Ranger District; media references place the site near Springerville and note the district’s public office is based in Heber‑Overgaard. Officials have not disclosed when the horses were discovered or whether the animals were wild or privately owned. That ownership question matters for potential charges: if the animals are protected wild horses, harming them may violate the Wild and Free‑Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which provides for federal penalties including fines and jail time.

This incident amplifies a pattern that federal managers and local communities have grappled with. Federal officials previously reported that in 2019 at least 11 wild horses were shot in the Apache‑Sitgreaves National Forests over an eight‑month period, and local reports have cited a large cluster of killings in October 2022. Repeated lethal incidents increase the fiscal and management burden on agencies that oversee public lands and protected herds, as necropsies, investigations, carcass disposal, and monitoring all carry direct costs. The $5,000 reward covers only a fraction of those expenditures and is aimed at generating leads from residents, hunters, ranchers, and recreational users who frequent the district.

For Apache County residents, the deaths raise immediate public-safety and stewardship concerns. Local ranchers and trail users rely on clear rules and enforcement on shared public land, and communities dependent on wildlife tourism or equine activities face reputational and economic risks when violence occurs on national forest lands. Law enforcement contact information is being circulated so residents can report sightings, suspicious activity, or information about missing horses.

What comes next is an active investigation and potential follow-up from federal managers. Officials have completed necropsies but have not released detailed forensic findings; community members with details are urged to call 928‑524‑9908. The case may also re-ignite discussions about funding and enforcement for protections of horses on public lands and whether additional measures are needed to prevent future killings.