Nevada Department of Agriculture urges extreme caution on 395

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) urges extreme caution after a motorist was taken to the hospital this morning after a collision with a feral horse at the intersection of old 395 and Rawhide Drive.

Horses in this area are crossing roadways in search of feed and water sources. Drivers should remain alert and aware, and be sure to obey all traffic laws, stressing the importance of posted speed limits in this area.

“We encourage all motorists driving in this area to just assume there are wild or feral animals that could be on the road,” Flint Wright, Animal Industry Division Administrator for the NDA said. “We are doing everything we can to keep these animals off the road for public safety and the safety of the horses.”

Efforts include working with the Nevada Department of Transportation to install fencing and cattle guards, as well as trapping horses that come in conflict with major roadways. Horses collected in this area will be placed and adopted or sold through cooperative agreements and feral/estray laws.

To report horses in the Virginia Range Area (395 to 95A and I-80 to highway 50) that pose a threat to public safety, please call the horse hotline at (775) 353-3608 or email horse@agri.nv.gov.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages a sustainable environment that serves to protect food, fiber and human health and safety through effective service and education. NDA includes the divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry.