Wild Horses Are Being Hit By Cars Far Too Frequently In Lake Tahoe Area

The state of Nevada is grappling with an escalating number of wild horses, a situation that has evolved into a pressing hazard for motorists in the region. 

The number of collisions involving these horses has dramatically increased, raising serious questions about safety and population control. 

The Sierra Nevada has seen a rise in the number of bears being hit by cars, raising the question of how well humans and bears can coexist. 

However, just 30 minutes away from Lake Tahoe in Carson Valley, there is another species being affected by vehicles: horses. These creatures are just as wild as the bears, and yet they are suffering from cars speeding by.

Veterinarian J.J. Goicoechea, the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, has reported that there are presently 3,567 horses in the Virginia Range. 

This area is located in the easternmost part of the northern Sierra Nevada, extending from Carson City to Reno over a 40-mile span from east to west.

The wild horse population in the American West that traces back to the Gold Rush or the land grab of the 1870s does not include the horses in the Reno area. 

Records from the Nevada Agriculture Department show that there were no wild horses in the area as of 1984. 

It is thought that the horses now living in the area were released or escaped in the 1980s and 1990s and became feral. 

According to Nevada law, these thousands of wild horses are owned by the state, and it is illegal to trap, feed, or interfere with them.

J.J. Goicoechea has approximated the Virginia Range of nearly 2,800 acres can hold between 500 to 600 horses, thus the existing population is too high by a factor of five. 

In addition to the ecological implications of introducing a foreign species in such huge numbers, another problem exists: Horses are being hit by motorists at a disconcerting rate.

Each year, dozens of collisions between vehicles and wild horses are reported to the Nevada Agriculture Department. 

For instance, 46 cases were noted in 2020, followed by 27 in 2021, 24 in 2022, and 42 by the end of November 2023. 

It’s important to note that these numbers only reflect reports from the Virginia Range, which is only a fraction of the total wild horse population in the state.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates that from 2006 to 2018, at least 400 car-horse accidents occurred in Nevada. 

This figure is based on data from the BLM’s management of wild horses in the state.

The total population of the Reno-Sparks-Carson City region has experienced a sharp increase, going from 216,000 in 1990 to more than 530,000 in 2023. 

This population growth has also been mirrored by the rise of wild horse numbers, which can expand by up to 25% annually. 

As a result, horses have been spotted in downtown areas, neighborhoods, and even on highways.

In the fall of 2016, two horses were tragically killed in a two-car collision in Reno. 

The following year, another horse was fatally struck by a vehicle due to inadequate lighting on the road. In 2013, a motorcyclist also died after colliding with a wild horse north of Reno (the horse was killed as well). 

From October to November 2022, there were thirteen car collisions involving horses in Reno, leading to concerns regarding safety in public meetings. 

In November 2023, two more horses were killed after being hit by cars on a toll road. 

Residents proposed solutions to this problem, such as constructing horse-proof fencing, lowering speed limits, and improving lighting on public roads.

Accidents involving motor vehicles and horses, which typically weigh between 900 and 1,100 pounds, are one of the risks posed by the large population of horses. 

Goicoechea states that this population of non-native species is having a negative effect on the local ecosystem as they are overgrazing on native plants and destroying the brush which birds depend on for nesting. 

Furthermore, their root-tearing activities can lead to soil erosion and reduce the number of places for young creatures to hide from predators.

The NDA has initiated initiatives to tackle two of the root causes of the problem, and a wildlife group was recently awarded a grant of $5.4 million to construct eco-friendly wildlife overpasses over Highway 395.

Managing the number of wild horses requires a multifaceted approach. 

Over the last four years, the Nevada Agriculture Department has teamed up with the American Wild Horse Campaign to give fertility control treatments to around 80% of the female horse population, resulting in a 66% reduction in birth rates, as reported by the Campaign. 

Another solution, helicopter-based roundups conducted by the Bureau of Land Management, has been criticized for being costly and cruel. 

Opponents of this approach say the helicopters, which fly close to the ground to herd the horses into pens and confined areas, cause fear and distress, leading to fatigue-related injuries, broken bones, and even PTSD.

At the present time, the Nevada Agriculture Department is currently focused on the horse-car collision issue through the AWHC population control effort. 

However, they are close to introducing a new program, with a soon to be appointed Virginia Range feral and estray horse program manager, directed by Goicoechea. 

The details of the program and the awareness campaign that will follow have yet to be decided, but will include general awareness guidance and motorist-specific regulations.

Goicoechea emphasizes the importance of people abiding by the regulations regarding wild horses. 

According to him, it is illegal to feed or give water to the horses, and this could lead them to wander away from their natural habitat in search of more food. 

Even if individuals are tempted to interact with the horses, it is not recommended as it could pose a danger to them.

Goicoechea reports that the NDA has evidence of kids getting kicked by horses. These animals can easily become alarmed and lash out, particularly if they sense danger near them.

It is unlawful for anyone to try to deal with Nevada’s horse population.