World's Largest Wild Horse Fertility Control Program in Nevada
Introduction
The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) proudly manages the world's largest wild horse fertility control program on the Virginia Range in Nevada. This initiative, which has attracted global attention, is a collaborative effort with local organizations and volunteers to humanely manage wild horses in their natural habitat.
Success, by the Numbers
As of September 26, 2019, the program has achieved significant milestones:
14 certified darters administering the PZP birth control in the field
Over 900 volunteer hours clocked each month, including darters, documenters, and spotters
495 initial treatments delivered
429 mares treated with boosters
924 total inoculations since program reinstatement on April 9, 2019
Multitasking, Effectively
To meet the needs of a growing program, AWHC holds regular sessions to keep our darting teams updated and educated. Each team member is proficient with our scientific database for entering new horses and updating older records. Volunteers are trained to fill multiple roles when needed on the range, ensuring every program member can use the database to identify mares and fillies for birth control treatment. Training includes target practice, sighting their rifle, experiencing other equipment, and updates on the birth control vaccine and implements.
Many team members are professionally trained to double as rescue volunteers, ready to assist in emergencies by swapping their official AWHC yellow safety vests for orange rescue vests.
Keeping Wild Horses Wild: A Collaborative Effort
Although our agreement with the Nevada Department of Agriculture is limited to fertility control, we support organizations that manage the range, rescue, and provide sanctuary. To stay updated with all things wild horse in Nevada, join Stay Wild! AWHC Nevada on Facebook.
Deb Walker is the Nevada Field Representative for the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign). Prior to working with AWHC, Deb was one of the founding board members and President for the Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates, which piloted a fertility control program with the Carson City Bureau of Land Management for the beloved Fish Springs wild horses. She is a retired school teacher of 25 years. Deb lives outside of Gardnerville, Nevada, with her husband and her rescued animals, which consist of two horses, three dogs, and a cat. She has two daughters and three grandchildren.