RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - The Nevada Department of Agriculture is preparing new fencing to contain wild horses in the Virginia Range area.

NDA Director JJ Goicoechea presented information regarding the horses to the Washoe County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday. He says the horses are largely the descendants of former ranch horses and are legally considered estray/feral livestock.

In 1997, there were 414 feral horses in the Virginia Range, compared to more than 3,500 in 2022.

The County says the horses pose a safety risk to the area, as the range they live on borders four major highways and residential areas.

In 2024, 36 horse vs vehicle incidents were recorded.

The NDA now says it is working to repair and construct new fencing to keep the horses in the wildland area and out of streets an

See Full Page