Advocates and lawmakers work to protect feral horses while developers and state pass the buck

By Michelle Baker

The wild horses in the Virginia Range have played a big role in the Reno community—a nuisance to some and revered by others. Considered legally “feral-estray,” the horses fall under the jurisdiction of the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

In the last decade, sprawling development in south Reno has caused a major outcry from the public to protect drivers and properties from damage caused by horses. There is also a call to protect the horses roaming the range.

Tensions recently came to a head when advocates discovered that developers had blocked access to one of the main sources of water for the horses at Steamboat Creek.

A blocked fence left the horses without water for three days—a move that raised the question of who is responsible for mitigating the impacts of development on the horses.

Get the full story on thisisreno.com.