Carson City Sheriff's Office to conduct mustang herding operation Sunday
Recent and regular reports of wild horses along East College Parkway in Carson City have prompted the Carson City Sheriff's Office to organize a herding operation set for Sunday.
"The Sheriff's mounted unit will be bringing a detail in tomorrow (Sunday) to try and wrangle them back up into the hills," Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said.
Furlong said his equine expert and mounted division commander, Joe Bruno, is leading the operation that is likely to involve a half dozen or more mounted officers as well as reserve deputies for traffic control.
Motorists in the area can expect temporary road closures and delays along East College Parkway near the Carson City Airport Sunday, Furlong said, as law enforcement attempts to move the mustangs from the East Nye Lane neighborhood north into the Goni Canyon area.
The Sheriff said his equine experts believe there are only two mustangs currently in the East Nye Lane area, the same pair that has been sighted almost daily at the intersection of East College Parkway and Airport Road for about the past week.
Furlong said the two mustangs may have become confused about how to get back to the north side of the airport where other members of the herd have been sighted.
Noting that herding may be the most effective way of moving the wild horses away from the city, Furlong said he hopes the operation will reunite the herd and move them all back up into the hills to safety.
Where they are currently at around neighborhoods and busy roadways in Northeast Carson City is not feasible for them or human residents.
"I consider them to be a safety hazard here," the Sheriff said. "My experts tell me the horses are probably down here for water, so people should not be feeding or watering them."
While it may seem like the humane thing to do, Furlong added, giving the mustangs food and water only encourages them to stay or return where they put themselves and people in the most danger.
Sunday's herding operation is expected to start in the late morning to early afternoon hours. Motorists and residents in the area of East College Parkway, between North Lompa and East Nye lanes, should expect delays and/or road closures until the herding operation is completed.
Alternate routes of travel are advised, Furlong said, as well as patience.
"Please slow down and be cautious if you are in the area," he said. "We don't want to scare the horses away."
That has already happened, the Sheriff said, when first-responders earlier attempted to corral the animals.
Where people can be of most help to the Sheriff's Office prior to the herding operation, he said, is to note exactly where they are at between now and Sunday afternoon.
"We would appreciate the public letting us know between now and Sunday where the horses are at," Furlong said.
That will help the team more easily locate the mustangs and move the operation along more swiftly, the Sheriff said.
Anyone who sights the wild horses is encouraged to call the non-emergency dispatch number at 775-887-2677 and report their whereabouts.
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