SCOTT SONNER

Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A federal judge in Nevada is trying to decide whether to extend a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. government from rounding up dozens of wild mustangs near the Idaho line in the midst of allegations of mistreatment of the animals.

U.S. District Judge Miranda Du scheduled a hearing in Las Vegas Thursday to consider the Bureau of Land Management's request to lift the emergency order she granted late last week after horse protection advocates presented video footage that suggests BLM wranglers were shocking horses with electric prods.

The agency maintains the cattle prods were used as a last resort and that their use was "within pre-established guidelines" of the Nov. 30 roundup near Owyhee north of Elko.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.