Carson City, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering Zippy, a wild horse that had to be removed from the urban interface north of Reno for adoption because people allowed it to access a hay stack at a private residence. The horse is a 22-month old bay gelding from the Granite Peak Herd Management Area.
“Unfortunately, this is a reoccurring problem in many urban interface areas throughout the state,” said Leon Thomas, Sierra Front Field Office Manager. “Well-meaning people feed or water wild horses which quickly become habituated to urban areas and then become a nuisance and in some case a danger.”
Habituated horses are more likely to be involved in a vehicle accident because they spend more time on or crossing roads. Stallions are more likely to approach equestrians which can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation as the stallions may attempt to mate with a mare or fight with a gelding. Additionally many people find wild horses a nuisance as they often damage landscaping and sprinkler systems as they forage in irrigated yards.
“Once wild horses become habituated they inevitably will have to be removed,” Thomas added. “Please help keep the wild horses wild by not feeding or watering them, resisting the temptation to approach them too closely and preventing them from eating hay or other foods on your property.”
If you are interested in adopting Zippy please contact John Axtell at 775-885-6146 or Palamino Valley Center at 775-475-2222.
