Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association

"Working to preserve  and protect all species of wildlife

 on the Virginia Range in Nevada" 

vrwpa timeline of key events
1979

Homeowners on 37,400 acres north of Virginia City formed what is now the Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association (VRWPA) to  preserve and protect the range and wildlife

 1982 VRWPA was instrumental in revising County Statutes. Aircraft  roundups  were prohibited, ‘Mustanging’ (taking of estray horses for personal profit) stopped in Storey County
1987

 Round table meetings started with State Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management, VRWPA and other interest groups to discuss the possibility of a Tri-County Virginia Range Estray Horse Management group. First range study completed and horse count performed by fixed wing aircraft. No one could agree and group dissolved.

1993 VRWPA requested Storey County to form Storey County Wild  Horse Control Commission to act on behalf of free roaming horses in  Storey County. New County statutes were put into place.
1994

 A Cooperative Agreement between the State of Nevada, Department of Agriculture and Storey County was signed, January 10th, with support and assistance from Joe Dini allowing for Storey County to act on behalf of it’s own estray horses.

1995

The IRS granted VRWPA’s request for 501c3 nonprofit status.

Storey County Wild Horse Commission disbanded and Storey County asked the VRWPA to help with the estray horses. Three nuisance  horses were successfully trapped, processed and placed into good homes to ensure complete and adequate processes were in place.

 

1996 Responsibility for care and post capture authority was given to VRWPA for Storey County nuisance horses placed up for adoption
1997

Round table meetings started between State Department of Agriculture, Storey County and VRWPA to formulate a Virginia Range Estray Horse Management Plan. Memorandum of Understanding to remove horses created by the State Department of Agriculture for Counties effected by estrays was reviewed by VRWPA and  recommended it not be signed by Storey County Commissioners. Storey  County did not sign and the State agreed to allow Storey County to continue functioning under their original Cooperative Agreement.

1998

At the request of Storey County, the VRWPA agreed to act in ‘wild’ horse  management activities County wide. Virginia Range Horse Range  Area identified. VRWPA paid for a joint aerial count to establish and  agree on the number of horses currently present. Virginia Range Horse Management Area identified.

34 horses were slaughtered in Storey County. VRWPA was asked by the County to coordinate calls and administer the $35,000 reward fund.

1999

IRS approves permanent 501c3 nonprofit status for VRWPA

The State Department of Agriculture opened the holding facility for nuisance horses removed from the range at the Northern Nevada Correctional  Center. VRWPA helped to adopt horses out as agent for Storey County under the original Cooperative Agreement with the State. USDA National Resource Conservation Services was selected to perform range study on management area only (85,000) acres to obtain a scientific opinion on the condition of the range and make a recommendation for capacity. VRWPA paid their share of $5,000 and Storey County's quarter $2,500. The State Department of Agriculture paid their quarter of the cost $2,500.

 

2000

Range study was completed and capacity number agreed upon. Press release held to inform the public of findings and future plan to reduce number of horses on the range 550. Comstock Wild Horse Gentling program created by the State Department of Agriculture at Warm Springs Medium Security Prison.

VRWPA was asked to administer the "Inmate Scholarship Fund" and donations for equipment and supplies for the program.  VRWPA was appointed feeding agent for the State Department of Agriculture to set up a winter  test-feeding program in the VC Highlands.

2002 VRWPA active in rescues and winter feeding program.
2003 Signed a new agreement with the State Department of Agriculture and Storey County to act as an agent for the adoption of estray horses.

Became a PMU for the Governors' Commission for the Sage Grouse.

2004 Started working with the State Department of Agriculture on birth control study of wild horses on the Virginia Range.

Working with University of Nevada on horse behavioral study.

1st private sale of wild horses at Tyson's Canyon Ranch.

Home | Up
Copyright © 2008 Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association