BOnnie Matton: The bad results of feeding wild horses in suburbs

My name is Bonnie Matton and I’m president of the Wild Horse Preservation League in Dayton. Many of us love to see Nevada’s wild horses. So much so, visitors come to Nevada from other states in our nation, as well as other places worldwide.

Why you ask? It’s because they want to have the privilege of seeing them in person, as well as taking photographs of these incredible animals.

And, there are several professional wild horse tour guides in Nevada who can take visitors out to view them. With that said, we wild horse folks are having a big problem saving some of these horses from getting killed on the highway, as well as having them get hit and die in our suburbs.

Unfortunately, I’m sorry to report there was a wild horse hit and killed by a driver on Wagon Wheel Way in Dayton. The driver was apparently going so fast on the night of Feb. 1, that when hitting the young horse, the front bumper and wheel well of his car or truck completely broke off. These were lying near the young horse. The site was across from the residence of a known wild horse feeder.

We know the horses in the Stagecoach, Dayton and Mound House areas cross the highway often in the dead of night. There was a horse hit and killed in Mound House just recently. Some residents love to see the horses so much, they actually entice them to come to their homes by feeding them apples, hay and other food treats.

Feeding is a death sentence as you can see above.

Thankfully, The Nevada Department of Agriculture just approved diversionary feeding and birth control darting by authorized personnel, which will occur far away from housing developments in the Mark Twain area of Dayton and Carson City. No one is approved to feed from their residence.

The Nevada Statute NRS 569.040 reads, “Unlawful to take up or feed estray or feral livestock.”

There’s a heavy fine for doing so, as well as possible jail time. If you see someone feeding wild horses, please call: 775-720-5134 or 775-246-0434.”