A Fed Horse is a Dead Horse: Protecting Nevada's Wild Horses

Anyone who has witnessed the majesty of Nevada’s wild horses knows why they are so special to our region. Unfortunately, many well-intentioned people also believe these horses (and burros) need human intervention to survive in areas where urban lands and wildlands intersect, especially during extreme weather events.

Yet by providing food and water – in the form of alfalfa, hay, cubes, apples, carrots, pellets, grains, and salt licks – we unintentionally make the animals dangerously dependent on humans, ultimately putting their lives at risk. Wild horses are not able to properly eat and digest these sorts of “snacks” as they have evolved to survive on Nevada’s desert vegetation. Choke or colic is a horribly painful way for a wild horse to die and is completely avoidable by respecting their wild nature and not feeding them. These conditions are nearly impossible to treat in a wild horse.

Feeding wild horses is also illegal, per NRS 569.040. Violations can result in a citation followed by a $2,000 fine.

When horses venture into neighborhoods seeking food instead of foraging, it makes it less likely they will be able to stay wild. Deaths, forced relocations, and permanent removals have all occurred around the Reno area (or Virginia Range) due to the repercussions of being fed.

Wild horses are just that: wild. This means they are unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Wild horses can forage and find water on their own. Where development has blocked previous movement to resources, local organizations work on mitigations to help the horses find alternatives. Horses can bite, kick, injure, or worse. People are asked to stay 100 feet from horses and back away and leave the area if horses approach.

When people provide supplemental food and water to wild animals, it can encourage the animals to loiter in places they shouldn’t, such as roadways. Each year, horses are killed while roaming neighborhood streets and highways. This is dangerous for both humans and animals.

If you see someone feeding wild horses, call the Wild Horse Hotline at 775-352-3944 or the Nevada Department of Agriculture at 775-353-3608.