Dispute Over Virginia Range Wild Horses Reignites
February 7, 2019
The controversy surrounding the Virginia Range wild horses has resurfaced, focusing on the cancellation of a cooperative agreement with the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) for managing the herd's birth control program. Lawmakers were informed that the agreement was terminated because AWHC only wanted to handle the birth control aspect.
Background of the Dispute
Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, R-Gardnerville, questioned the cancellation, noting he was never informed why the program ended despite its success in reducing births. He asked, "What were they supposed to be doing that they weren't doing, and why did we cancel a promising program like that?"
Animal Industry Administrator Doug Farris stated that AWHC didn't want to manage traffic control, horse removal, diversionary feeding, and other aspects of the agreement. However, AWHC Executive Director Suzanne Roy refuted these claims as "patently false."
AWHC's Position
Roy explained that AWHC had an agreement with the former Agriculture Director Jim Barbee to focus on birth control, as the department decided to handle other issues independently. She highlighted that other entities involved in diversionary feeding weren't adhering to procedures requiring fertility control.
Roy also denied Farris's claim about reduced liability insurance, stating, "There was never any reduction of the million-dollar policy. I have no idea where that came from."
The Birth Control Program
The program uses a contraceptive called PZP, administered via darts from a tranquilizer gun, to control herd size and reduce roundups. Roy questioned why the fertility program was canceled, leaving the herd unmanaged for a year, despite AWHC's significant contributions.
She emphasized that trained volunteers are ready to restart the program to control the 2020 breeding season and mentioned sending a letter to the subcommittee to correct the record.
Current Situation
There are an estimated 3,000 horses in the Virginia Range herd, occupying an area that experts say can only support about 600 horses. These animals are technically listed as "estray" and are not protected by the Wild Horse and Burro Act.