US authorities will attempt to kill 150 wild cows considered “aggressive” and dangerous to a western forest’s fauna and flora by shooting them from a helicopter, they announced on Friday.
The operation will be carried out by specialized agents who will fly over the Gila National Forest in the state of New Mexico between Thursday and Sunday.
“It was a difficult decision, but the removal of wild livestock from the area is necessary to ensure public safety and to protect the habitats of threatened and endangered species…” said Camille Howes, official at Gila National Forest.
“Wild cattle in the Gila forest are aggressive towards hikers,” she also warned in a statement.
Shooting cows from the air is “the most efficient and humane way to deal with this problem,” according to forest officials.
This method has already been used in “predator damage management operations” to “exterminate” target populations like coyotes in New Mexico, US Wildlife Services said in a statement.