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.
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