Carson Now reader Tanja Musselman took these photos of Saturday’s rally in opposition of wild mustangs being fenced out of Washoe Lake.
The rally at Washoe Lake brought attention to the growing public concern over a proposed fencing project that horse advocates say could permanently alter the movement patterns and water access of the Virginia Range wild horses.
Community members, horse advocates, photographers, historians and Nevada residents met up Saturday at Washoe Lake for the Keep Washoe Wild Rally, calling on state and federal agencies to reconsider a proposed fencing project that they believe will block the Virginia Range wild horses from accessing the water sources and habitat they have relied upon for generations.
Organizers are urging the Nevada Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Land Management to pause the project and engage with the public to discuss humane, practical alternatives that protect both public safety and the long-term welfare of the horses.
Nevada State Parks and the Nevada Department of Agriculture say they are undertaking separate projects aimed at improving public safety and safeguarding the welfare of horses in the Virginia Range. These efforts focus on protecting public safety, reducing conflicts between horses, urban areas and roadways.
Nevada State Parks has been repairing and maintaining existing fencing at Washoe Lake State Park for several years. Originally constructed as part of a ranch that once occupied the area, the fencing now serves to define park boundaries while helping protect visitors, horses and wildlife.
Repair efforts have focused on sections of fencing along East Lake Boulevard near sensitive wetland areas, where the risk of collisions between vehicles and animals is elevated. Only within the last decade have the Virginia Range horses been utilizing Washoe Lake as a water source after deteriorated fencing allowed access to the park and surrounding areas.
The Nevada Department of Agriculture began repairing existing fencing on public lands in September 2024 where the Virginia Range borders urban development. NDA says these efforts are intended to help reduce harmful interactions between horses and people, limit access to roadways, and protect both the animals and the public. At this time, no active construction of new fencing by NDA is taking place.
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