A colt looks out over the landscape as a balloon drifts past the Carson Range. Photo special to The R-C by JT Humphrey
The acquisition of 3,335 acres of Bently land across the Pine Nut Mountains by The American Wild Horse Campaign makes the nonprofit one of the major grazing rights holders in Douglas County.
“The Bently Foundation has long supported the Campaign, as have Camille and I personally,” Christopher Bently said on Friday. “It’s the least we can do to help stave off the endless slaughter and barbaric captures the BLM senselessly inflict upon the native wild horses year after year.”
According to the Campaign’s Suzanne Roy, the Bentlys donated seven parcels totaling 757.18 acres and donors purchased 14 additional parcels amounting to 2,538 acres.
“Additionally, one of our corporate sponsors purchased a 40-acre parcel to be preserved as part of the conservation area,” she said. “We are extremely grateful to Christopher and Camille Bently and Bently Family LLC for the direct donation of lands, and to the other donors who enabled the purchase of additional lands to make the full acquisition possible.”
The property was part of a 14,522-acre acquisition proposed under the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act in 2017, but Bently decided not to complete the project, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
“The new Fish Springs conservation area includes key water sources to sustain the wildlife populations in the area, including the Fish Springs wild horses, an internationally known herd that is a top ecotourism resource for the Carson Valley,” Roy said. “We look forward to working closely with the Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates to steward this beloved wild herd.”
Roy said the campaign looks to develop partnerships with Douglas County and the Bureau for the preservation of the Fish Springs herd.
“Through collaboration, we can make progress toward achieving conservation goals for this spectacular area of Nevada,” she said.
