Department investigating release of horses

The Nevada Department of Agriculture is investigating the release of captured feral-estray horses from the Washoe Valley area.

The department was notified that the horses were running loose on U.S. Highway 395 South near Washoe Hill, according to the department.

An NDA enforcement officer worked with a private landowner to secure the horses to gather them in accordance with the department’s agreement with the Return To Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary, according to a news release. The agreement states that the department only gathers Virginia Range horses when there is a public-safety concern, such as horses on roadways and in urban areas.

“We believe that one or two individuals (Thursday night or Friday morning) cut the property owner’s fence and chain and released the horses into an unfenced area about 100 yards from the intersection of U.S. Highway 395 and Pawnee Lane,” said Flint Wright, administrator of the Department’s Division of Animal Industry.

“The horses were first gathered for their own safety, as well as the safety of motorists and any potential pedestrians in the area. We are lucky no accidents occurred and that the horses are safe.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call the Department of Agriculture at 775-353-3608.