Nevada Board Cedes Control Over Virginia Range Wild Horses
The Nevada Board of Agriculture has made a pivotal decision to transfer control of approximately 3,000 wild horses in the Virginia Range to a non-profit organization. This move has sparked significant opposition from wild horse advocates and business interests who fear for the horses' future and the state's frontier image.
The board voted 8-1 in favor of the plan, despite concerns that it could lead to the horses being at risk of slaughter. Suzanne Roy, executive director of the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), expressed strong opposition, stating, "This is a dangerous move, it is an illegal move and it is totally against the will of the public."
The decision was made during an emotional public meeting with numerous comments from attendees in Sparks and Las Vegas. Board member David Stix highlighted the state's inability to manage the horses, which are seen as iconic symbols of the region.
Stix, representing semi-range cattle production, remarked, "The government in some cases can’t do certain things. And one of those things is manage animals." The vote mandates the Nevada Department of Agriculture to seek proposals from non-profit animal advocacy groups interested in taking ownership of the horses.
However, there was no prior staff report or detailed plan on how the transfer would be executed or its costs. The board aims to find an established animal advocacy organization capable of keeping the horses on the range and preventing their sale for slaughter. Yet, they acknowledged the difficulty in controlling the horses' fate once ownership is transferred.
Jim Barbee, director of the Department of Agriculture, noted, "There are no absolutes in this life we live. At the end of the day they would become private property." Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, through spokesperson Mari St. Martin, supported the board's decision, emphasizing humane management of the Virginia Range horse population.
This decision marks a significant policy shift from the previous management model. Unlike federally protected wild horses, those in the Virginia Range are considered feral livestock under state jurisdiction, lacking federal protection against slaughter.
Previously, the state managed these horses under an agreement with the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), which facilitated adoptions and birth control programs. However, the relationship deteriorated, leading to the state's decision to seek a new non-profit partner.
The proposal to transfer ownership, added to the agenda shortly before the meeting, disrupts the existing model of state ownership with non-profit management support. Boyd Spratling, vice chairman of the board, submitted the proposal, stating, "What we have been doing is not good for anybody."
The decision faced overwhelming opposition, with 152 comments submitted before the meeting, mostly against the proposal. Horse advocacy groups and major landowners, including those from the Tahoe Regional Industrial Center, voiced their concerns. Kris Thompson, representing the center, emphasized the horses' role in attracting business leaders to Nevada.
Carlo Luri of Bentley Enterprises criticized the proposal as "ill-conceived," warning it could open doors to pro horse-slaughter organizations. The American Wild Horse Conservation also challenged the proposal's legality, with attorney Jon Ludwig arguing it violates state statutes.
For more details, refer to the letter to the board by attorney Jon Ludwig.