Oct 23, 2005 10:00 am US/Mountain
2 Cases Of Dead Horses Not Related
Calhan, CO (CBS4) ―
Sixteen more horses were found dead out near Calhan in El Paso County. Investigators said Saturday the new case is not connected with one from last week.
The horses found this week were near the same area where seven other horses were found last week.
El Paso County sheriff's investigators said the 16 horses found dead more recently probably died of a lightning strike.
An investigator said there were no signs of foul play in this week's case.
The National Weather Service told CBS4 there were isolated thunderstorms in the area when the 16 horses died.
The United States Department of Agriculture reports 80 percent of all accidental livestock deaths are caused by lightning.
Toxicology results on the seven horses found last week came back negative for rat poison. That is what investigators originally suspected. There were also some wounds on the animals from that case.
They continue to investigate the first case of seven dead horses from last week.
(Copyright © MMV CBS Television Stations, Inc.)
