Herds of feral horses are roaming on thousands of acres in Louisiana where Army soldiers conduct intensive training.
Officials say that poses a danger and a nuisance to troops, who are at risk of being kicked, bitten or unpleasantly surprised by random piles of manure.
The officials are trying to find a way to deal with the approximately 700 "trespass horses," and are holding a meeting Thursday to hear input from residents and animal rights groups.
Jim Caldwell is a spokesman for the 604,000-acre Kisatchie National Forest, 90,000 acres of which are used by the base. He said most of the horses can be found on about 48,000 acres where Fort Polk conducts intensive training.
The area is about 90 miles northwest of Lafayette, Louisiana, and about 20 miles from the Texas state line.
