20 horses found abandoned in Fla.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 17 (UPI) -- Investigators say they believe more than 20 horses found abandoned in southern Florida were originally wild mustangs adopted through a federal program.

Detective Buzz Baker, head of the agricultural unit in Martin County, told WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, Fla., some people adopt more horses than they have the capacity to care for.

The horses were discovered July 8 in Hendry County, southwest of Lake Okeechobee. Baker and a colleague, Sgt. Ken Ault, were called in to help because of their ranch expertise.

"It's very sad and it's disturbing," Baker said. "These horses were literally dumped out in the middle of the highway and the woods and stuff, and it's disturbing."

Six or seven horses remained at large Friday.

Police were trying to determine who dumped the horses and were seeking people willing to adopt one.

Wild horses have become a major problem in parts of the west. They are descended from horses brought by European settlers and have no natural predators, allowing their populations to expand quickly.