Written by Dorothy Nylen – Highway fencing as well as fencing on public lands is designed to protect human life, as well as livestock and large wildlife such as free roaming horses. In some areas of western Nevada repairs are made by volunteer organizations at their own cost. This is an emergency operation at any hour. Please report any cut or downed fences. While you are out enjoying public lands please remember to cross these areas using the appropriate cattle guards or gates. Close gates you find open and shut gates behind you after you pass through.
Who to call: Nevada Highway Patrol, local Bureau of Land Management office. In the area of the Virginia Range call the Wild Horse Hotline at (775) 352-3944
First photo shows a cut fence along a rural highway near Silver Springs, Nevada. Photo: Jodie Jensen Feist.
Second photo: Five wild stallions found an open gate on US 50 and traveled more than a mile from their original entry point and became trapped in a fenced section of highway. These horses were running and fighting oblivious to traffic. The gate shown behind them is locked. Photo: Deborah Engelke.
Third: Volunteers repair miles of fence line on Bureau of Land Management property. This barrier helps to keep wild horses out of areas where they would be in danger of being permanently removed.