Environmentalists say federal land managers are failing to keep livestock and wild horses out of streams and other wetlands in Arizona's White Mountains, resulting in damage to habitat for a rare species of mouse.
They are suing in federal court. The battle over the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse has been ongoing for years.
The mouse was listed as an endangered species in 2014, prompting the U.S. Forest Service to fence off streams and watering holes in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado to protect habitat thought to be ideal. That created criticism from ranchers and others who say the federal government is preventing private access to public lands.