Wild Horses

Concerned about the recent uptick in wild horses in and around the Virginia Range south of Reno, state agriculture officials say they want the horses to remain in the wild as long as they aren't presenting a public risk. If there are problems, officials say they will gather the horses for adoption.

In a released statement, the Nevada Department of Agriculture says it receives complaints almost daily about horses in neighborhoods in and around the Virginia Range.

The Advocates to End Domestic Violence invite everyone to join the 'Light After Dark Walk/Run' on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. Starting at 11 a.m. on Race Day, participants can pick-up their packets at Riverview Park. Warm-ups will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the RACE starting at 6 p.m. The race course will be the Full Loop once around for the 5K and twice around for the 10K. There will be music and refreshments after the race. They encourage participants to dress up. Each participant will given a glow stick to wear during the event.

Now that Autumn has arrived, it’s a great time to explore the areas east of Carson City. These trails and back roads can be impassable in the winter, muddy in the Spring, and too hot during the Summer. This time of year, though, the dry conditions and mild temperatures make it the perfect time to go. One of our favorite Fall rides is the off-road route up to Virginia City via the American Flat Toll Road. With the area’s fun and lively Old West history, this ride has started to become an annual event.

State agencies are urging caution when driving on highways, public roads and in neighborhoods near the Virginia Range. The range includes the areas east of Carson City, Fernley, Dayton, Lockwood, south Reno, Silver Springs and Virginia City.

Many celebrations are scheduled throughout the Silver State in the month of October. These Nevada 150 events celebrate all things Nevada and help bring awareness to the 150th Anniversary of Statehood. The following area events are held Oct. 1-15:

The first Wild Horse Faire will arrive in Virginia City, Aug. 23, hosted by the Silverland Inn, Let 'Em Run Foundation and the Virginia City Tourism Commission.

“American Mustang, The Story of A Girl, A Cowboy and A Wild Horse,” shows to a sold-out audience, Thursday at Galaxy Fandango in Carson City.

Sponsored by Cafe at Adele’s and Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital, organizers hope to bring additional showings to Nevada’s Capitol later this fall.

“I think it is because it is a 3-D film, we could not move it to a bigger theater,” said Margie Quirk. “There will be a showing coming up in Sparks and we are going to try to get more showings scheduled for September.”
“American Mustang” played two weeks in Portland, five sold-out shows a day.

Despite overall numbers in the tens of thousands, mustang advocates say the wild horse is on the verge of going extinct in North America for the second time in 13,000 years and deserves protection under the Endangered Species Act alongside grizzly bears, the desert tortoise and humpback whales.

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s 4-H presents Capital City Farm Days 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., April 17 and 18. There will be 30 presenters teaching elementary-age youth about Nevada agriculture, where food and fiber come from, and environmental issues related to agriculture.

Attendees will include public, private and home-schooled students and their families from Carson City, Storey County, Douglas County and Dayton Valley.

Editor’s Note: Nevada 150 is a yearlong series highlighting the people, places and things that make up the history of the state.

In Nevada, you either love wild horses or hate them. Clearly more residents love them because in a public vote, conducted by then-state Treasurer Brian Krolicki in 2005, a scene of wild horses running across the desert was selected for the front of Nevada’s state quarter.

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Wild-horse fertility control and sage-grouse habitat conservation are among top priorities in the proposed $1.1 billion budget for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

A number of captured feral-estray wild horses from the Washoe Valley area north of Carson City were illegally released sometime Thursday or Friday prompting an investigation by the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

The Virginia Range horses were reported to be running loose Friday on Highway 395 south near Washoe Hill, said Bob Conrad, department spokesman.

Local residents gathered at the Bureau of Land Management field office in Carson City Wednesday, amid concerns over pending action that may include removal of wild horses.

The area known as Fish Springs, three miles southeast of Gardnerville, is home to scattered bands of wild horses that have become part of the landscape to property owners over the past 20 years. The situation came to a head recently, when residents provided supplemental watering tanks for the horses.

On track with summer vacation, the historic V&T Railroad now offers adventure-seeking children 12 and under the chance to climb aboard and ride a diesel train for free every Friday through summer.

An independent report released today by The National Academy of Sciences is critical of the Bureau of Land Management's oversight of free-ranging horses and burros on federal public lands in the western United States and urges changes to its current roundup policies.

The Nevada Senate is set to consider allowing the state to enter agreements with advocacy groups to manage wild horses in the state.

Patty Bumgarner posted it as hopeful desire to one day unite advocates in protecting wild horses.

Several wild horses bought at a Bureau of Land Management auction in Carson City on Saturday, have been delivered to a 2,000 acre ranch in Northern California.

A herd of wild horses removed from an area off of Deer Run Road last month were purchased Saturday at a Bureau of Land Management adoption in Carson City.

The BLM-sanctioned silent bid adoption was held at Silver Saddle Ranch. The horses were bought for $850 by the Deer Run Preservation Group in a collaborative effort with the American Wildhorse Preservation Campaign.

About 100 people attended the auction, many of whom were supporting the group and its efforts to save the horses.

The Reno Gazette-Journal's Mark Robison, who authors the "Fact Checker" blog, looks into the claim that the Bureau of Land Management was justified in removing a family of wild horses off Deer Run Road near Carson City.

Earlier this year, Leon Thomas — the BLM’s new Sierra Front field manager — ordered the removal of 11 horses near Deer Run Road. Some were sent to a Colorado ranch; eight are up for auction Saturday. That much is agreed upon, nearly everything else is in dispute.

The Bureau of Land Management will hold an adoption on March 23 for several wild horses recently removed from the outskirts of Carson City. Currently eight wild horses including a mare and foal pair will be available. Meanwhile, advocates for the wild horses say they want the family at a California sanctuary instead of being put up for adoption.

More photos of the Thursday, March 7, event in front of the Nevada Legislature buildings in Carson City. About 50 people showed support for wild horses that were trapped recently by the BLM. — Photos by Annie Jantzen

A local citizen's group called the Deer Run Wild Horse Preservation Group urged locals to come out and support the return of a local beloved herd of wild horses. About 50 Carson City residents came together outside the Nevada Legislature today for a rally to raise awareness in the community for what has happened to the horses.

Coordinator Annie Jantzen says, "Even the Humane Society in Washington, DC is calling for the BLM to put these horses back on the range where they belong, and work with the community on solutions."

Dozens of wild horse advocates held signs Thursday in front of the Nevada Legislature in Carson City to protest last week's decision by the BLM to remove a band of 11 wild horses from the outskirts of town.

There will be a rally/walk in front of the Nevada Legislature Thursday from 11:30-1pm in support of wild horses in Carson City and against the BLM's decision to remove a herd of 11 horses from the area. Bring a sign if you can or just show up.

UPDATE: Wild horse advocates will hold a rally in front of the Nevada Legislature Thursday, March 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to protest the BLM's decision to remove a herd of 11 wild horses from the area. The advocates say the want the horses, picked up from the BLM last week, to be put back into the wild. The BLM contends the horses have been problematic and pose a safety hazard.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the latest animal rights organization to denounce the Bureau of Land Management’s decision to remove a small band of wild horses located east of Carson City, Nev., in the Pine Nut Herd Management Area.

Efforts by wild horse advocates to stop the trapping of 11 horses this week may have been dashed but there are plans in the works to see if the horses can be allowed to roam elsewhere, including the Silver Saddle Ranch. Margie Quirk addressed the Carson City Board of Supervisors Thursday.

The Carson City Board of Supervisors will meet today beginning at 8 a.m. in the Ormsby Room of the sheriff's administration building, 911 East Musser Street. During the public comment period, wild horse advocates have said they will speak to the issue of this week's roundup of a band of wild horses near Deer Run Road.

The Bureau of Land Management began removing several horses Wednesday from the outskirts of Carson City. The horses are a part of the Pine Nut Mountains herd management area that is adjacent to Deer Run Road. The following is from Margie Quirk, a wild horse advocate, who, along with nearly two dozen residents, were unsuccessful in their attempt to convince the BLM to consider other alternatives than to trapping and moving the 11 wild horses from the area.