The Sheriff’s Office is reporting the theft of horse tail hair in Natrona County, officials saying this is the first report of such a crime in several years.
According to a Natrona County Sheriff’s Office incident report, the theft occurred on a section of El Rio Road, near Bessemer Bend, west of Casper. Investigators believe that the theft occurred sometime between 8:00 pm on July 15th, 2017 and 11:05 am on July 18th, 2017.
According to the brief incident report, an unknown person or persons cut the horse tail without the owner’s permission. It is also listed on the report that the incident caused undue suffering to the horse’s health.
A rash of horse tail thefts plagued this county, and surrounding counties, during 2012. Estimates from the time put the number at 100 separate incidents reported in Natrona, Converse, Fremont, and Sweetwater counties combined.
Mane and tail hair is used in the creation of jewelry, accessories, art, and apparel.
Lt. John Becker with the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office says that the July 2017 report is the only one they’ve received so far this year.
