Wild horse advocates urge Nevada governor, land managers to reverse transfer plan
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 01/02/2018 - 7:19pm
Wild horse advocates upset by Nevada Board of Agriculture decisions late last year that ended an agreement with the American Wild Horse Campaign and then agreeing to transfer ownership of all Virginia Range horses to a yet-to-be-named nonprofit animal organization say they plan to demonstrate Wednesday and hold a candlelight event Saturday at the capitol building in Carson City.
The advocates are calling on Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Director of Agriculture Jim Barbee to halt plans that would transfer ownership of the estimated 3,000 Virginia Range wild horses that fall under the state of Nevada’s jurisdiction.
The advocates, who will demonstrate Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m., say hundreds of Nevadans have voiced opposition to the plan through letters and phone calls. They also plan a candlelight event Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.
In December the Nevada Board of Agriculture voted 8 to 1 to turn over management of the horses to a nonprofit group.
Advocates say one group has expressed interest. However state agriculture officials say there hasn't been a group to step forward because a request for proposal is still in its draft phase. The RFP could be released sometime by the end of the month.
“The RFP will outline the scope of work required to put ownership of the Virginia range estray horses with a reputable animal advocacy organization that has the experience, knowledge, tools, resources and financial ability to manage the horses according to their needs,” said Director Barbee.
The agriculture board said the decision was necessary because the state is not capable of managing the horses.
The Department of Agriculture also terminated what advocates say was a successful birth control program for wild horses. The ongoing dispute between state and federal land managers and wild horse advocates heated up in October when Nevada Department of Agriculture announced it would terminate its cooperative agreement with the American Wild Horse Campaign.
The department said AWHC had sent notice it would not be fulfilling all items in the agreement.
“Our number one priority is to protect public safety, and that requires collaboration between state, local and nonprofit partners,” said NDA Director Barbee in October. “In addition to working with a coordinating partner, the NDA can assist local law enforcement with removal of feral horses upon request.”
The cooperative agreement with the American Wild Horse Campaign was implemented by local organizations including Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association, Wild Horse Connection and Wild Horse Preservation League. The first year results showed the humane birth control program reduced the reproductive rate of Virginia Range horses by approximately 27 percent in 2017, advocates say.
Over the past four years, local organizations with the help of AWHC say they have rescued around 250 Virginia Range horses, preventing nearly 150 births in 2017 and an estimated 200 pregnancies expected in 2018.
- Brian Sandoval
- Carson City
- 000
- 2017
- 2018
- Advocacy
- Advocates
- agriculture
- birth control
- campaign
- Capitol
- carson
- City
- collaboration
- december
- event
- Experience
- Fall
- financial
- from 5
- Governor
- help
- Horses
- Letters
- local
- Nevada
- News
- Nonprofit
- October
- Organization
- preservation
- program
- public
- Public safety
- results
- Safety
- saturday
- state
- Wednesday
- Wild Horse
- law enforcement
- Wild Horses
- wildlife
