Federal spending bill includes funding to protect Virginia Range horses
$500,000 appropriation will support community management and public safety programs
(RENO, Nev.) March 17, 2022 — The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) commends U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) for securing $500,000 in federal support for the protection and humane management of the historic Virginia Range horses in the greater Reno area.
The funding is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471), which President Joe Biden signed into law on March 15. The money is appropriated to the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) for “collaborative, science-based management” of the herd. This includes funding for fencing and diversionary feeding to prevent horse-vehicle collisions.
“I am grateful to Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for supporting our community’s work to protect Virginia Range horses,” said Reno City Councilwoman Naomi Duerr. “I look forward to working with the Nevada Department of Agriculture to fund critically-needed fencing projects in South Reno to address urgent public safety and horse welfare concerns.”
The Virginia Range horses inspired Velma Johnston's (AKA Wild Horse Annie) efforts to protect wild horses, sparking a nationwide campaign that eventually resulted in passage of the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Ironically, these iconic horses are not federally protected because their 280,000-acre range is state and privately-owned land. The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) manages the herds as “feral/estray livestock.”
“The Virginia Range [horses] are part of the history and culture of northern Nevada and the public overwhelmingly supports their protection,” said Suzanne Roy, AWHC executive director.
The horses are managed under two cooperative agreements - one between AWHC and the NDA for a fertility control vaccine program. AWHC’s program is now the largest of its kind in the world and has reduced the herd’s foaling rate by 44 percent since 2019.
“We thank Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for ensuring that federal funds are directed toward humane measures that support the existing community programs to protect the horses, reduce population growth and protect public safety in this rapidly urbanizing area,” said Roy.
The second agreement, between NDA and local group Wild Horse Connection (WHC), provides for range management, including rescue and relocation as well as diversionary feeding and fencing construction/repair programs the $500,000 will support.
“We are thankful for the Senators' work to include funding for the NDA and the focus to allow them to support the successful cooperative agreements in place on the Virginia Range,” said Corenna Vance, WHC president. “With our ever-growing public support, we are happy to see the support from the federal level.”
WHC’s public safety programs have dramatically reduced horse-human conflicts in the Virginia Range. These programs enjoy broad support from the public and the business community, including the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center —home of the Tesla Gigafactory—where close to one-third of the Virginia Range horses live.
Kris Thompson, project manager for the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center and member of the Storey County Planning Commission, praised the Senators for their support. “We stand ready to work with the [NDA] to ensure that the funds are humanely and appropriately deployed here at the Industrial Center and throughout the Virginia Range,” he said.
About the American Wild Horse Campaign
The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is the nation's leading wild horse protection organization, with more than 700,000 supporters and followers nationwide. AWHC is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse and burros in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage.
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