November 7th, 2007

In the late afternoon hours of November 7th, people watching Stockton Flat noticed Don Alt drive up to the cattle corrals in a green Ford F350 4x4 crew cab, NV license No. 348-PSP, and park alongside the cistern. The observers noticed that Mr. Alt's arrival coincided with the approach of a band of 22 horses that frequent the allotment. This band often passes by the normally empty cistern enroute to an emergency wildlife water tank (the replacement tank for the one Mr. Alt destroyed.)

As the horses approached, Mr. Alt got out of his pickup, opened the corral gate and was observed inside the corrals for a short period. Mr. Alt then returned to his pickup, leaving the gate totally open, and he watched the horses enter the corral. The horses appeared to be attracted by something inside the corral as they spread about eating from the ground inside the corral.

The surveillance was interrupted by the arrival of John and Tammye Moore who are friends of Mr. Alt. The Moores interceded somewhat in behalf of Mr. Alt. The horses continued to consume something in the corral however the observers were unable to approach and see what the material was. When the observers showed no indication of leaving, Mr. Alt and the Moores exited Stockton Flat. The volunteers then drove the horses out of the corral system.

It should be noted that prior to the cistern being filled with water the corral gate remained open. The horses were observed repeatedly walking by the corral and showed no interest in it or anything inside it. Volunteers closed the gate once the water was found to prevent horses attracted by the water from entering the corrals. At the time the water was noticed there were horse tracks all around the cistern but the horses did not appear to enter the corral. When Mr. Alt was present the horses entered the corral and were clearly eagerly eating something spread out inside the corral.

Concerned that Mr. Alt could have placed Rumensen in dry form in the corrals, samples were taken even though pretty much everything edible had been consumed.

The following day State Livestock Inspector Mike Holmes and a party of volunteers independently conducted horse counts. Each count produced only 13 of the 22 horses that had been in the corral.

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