Crooks and Liars

New Nevada Agriculture Director Takes Aim at Wild Horses Part Thirty Seven

News From the Front - May 30, 2008

Where have all the horses gone?

There has been a bit of speculation lately over where the Virginia Range horses are. Director Lesperance's conduct has left a number of local citizens worried that his attitude might be encouraging a resurgence of "mustanging" in the more remote portions of the range. Furthermore Dr. Larussa submitted a map that indicated that 70% of the herd was to be found in and about the Virginia Highlands. Clearly if Larussa's map were accurate, the herd would have all but vanished. Speculation recently reached the point that one Highlands resident expressed his conviction that a livestock transport full of horses he saw in California confirmed his suspicions. The unusual weather of late has prevented advocates from sending up a scheduled reconnaissance flight so abduction theories have flourished among some residents. Besides, the notion of someone creeping onto the range and stealing horses has a dramatic feel to it.

As we actually spend time out on the horse range, our concerns differ from those worried about rustling and our theories involve much less intrigue. The same weather that grounded the aircraft has also affected the horses. From observing their behavior these animals appear to be able to read the weather better than some of our local weather forecasters. It is foaling season, foals don't retain body heat as well as mature horses, and the bands are hunkered down in lowlands and sheltered canyons to escape the biting wind and snow.

We prefer facts to drama, so recently a number of experienced observers went out onto the range in Jeeps, on horseback and on foot to do a little ground reconnaissance. It's harder to spot horses on the ground and there is more possibility of different observers counting a few bands counted by other observers, but a good ground survey can reveal a trend.

Additionally, a trapping operation would leave signs. There is an abundance of tumbling mustard and yellow fiddleneck growing this year. Unlike grass, these plants will remain broken down if trampled by horses crowded together or by the tires of heavy trucks.

What the observers reported were horses - lots of them - grazing on a bumper crop of grass and the area's springs were running well. (Nobody found any signs of rustling but an injured foal was discovered that had to be brought in.)

Laurel Monreal found 300 head at the lower end of Lousetown Creek and another 150 near the Lockwood landfill. Mike Holmes who went out on horseback reported that he stopped counting when he reached 150 head deep in Long Valley. Anne Hall reported about 155 horses in the northeast range (overlooking Fernley.) TRI is should have about 400 head and while we haven't counted up there, the industrial park is patrolled and they don't allow hunting or trapping of any kind. Combined volunteer counts in the southeast corner (Lyon County) come up with nearly 150 horses.

Considering that some horses on NRI and those near Lockwood move around and a few were likely counted twice, it's safe to estimate that at least 1000 individual horses have been seen.

While this process isn't scientific, it is a strong indicator that the horses are probably smarter than we are when it comes to weather on the range and they are making the best use of resources in the more sheltered locations while the current weather persists. Once the temperatures start climbing, the bands that have foals will start showing up in the higher elevations.

With respect to horse trapping operations, to date no such signs were reported at any of the old trap sites and other secluded areas. The only "heavy" tire tracks reported anywhere near those areas were attributed to rancher Vince Ferriera's flat bed pickup that he used to take supplies out to his cattle.

We're all concerned that Director Lesperance's behavior may give some dishonest people some ideas that horses are again free for the taking and the volunteers remain watchful, however to date we have not seen any evidence of missing horses or horses being illegally removed.