
‘We’ll never see it again’: New Mexico’s goat horns report sparks debate
- October 27, 2021
A new report by the New Mexico Bureau of Wildlife and Fisheries found the horns of goats in the state may have been poisoned.
The report, which was submitted to the state’s attorney general, found that between 2005 and 2012, at least seven goats died after being poisoned by the horn fungus.
It said some goats died as a result of ingesting toxic fumes from the fungus.
A goat’s head in the field, the report said.
A goat’s body.
A sheep’s head.
An animal with a broken arm.
The report noted the animals suffered from a wide range of illnesses including pneumonia, brain damage, kidney failure, and neurological problems.
The goats’ owners, however, have denied the claims, saying they’ve never seen the animals die and that the horns were never used for medicinal purposes.
According to the report, the horn was not the primary cause of the illness, which had been reported by farmers and herders in the area for years.
The horns were discovered by the Bwys.
After they returned to the field and the horn began to stink, the sheep and goats had to be put down, according to the bureau’s report.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture also investigated the incident.
The agency found no signs of foul play and that it was a matter for the district attorney’s office.