The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is responsible for the protection, restoration, and management of fish and wildlife resources in the state. Wild horses are non-native and not classified as wildlife, and therefore are not managed by NDOW. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), under the Wild Free-roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, is responsible for managing wild horses in sustainable numbers in the natural environment on Federal lands. The BLM is also responsible for setting limits for horse numbers (Appropriate Management Levels, called "AMLs") based on the ability of the range to support the animals, to improve rangelands where wild horses roam with livestock and wildlife, and to productively support all rangeland values.

Wild horse and burro populations, when not at AMLs, often exceed the capacity of the land to support them and degrade delicate wildlife habitat. This degradation includes damage to riparian zones and watersheds, adverse effects on water quality, and impacts to native vegetative communities, accelerating the spread of invasive weeds.

The Department of Wildlife supports sound management of wild horses and burros in Nevada, which benefits both the horses, and the state's wildlife.

• NDOW testimony at the Ely BLM hearing on the use of helicopters to aid in the round-up wild horses. (6/14/11)
  
  
• Managing Wild Horses on Public Lands By Bob Abbey (The Wildlife Professional, Winter 2010)
  
  
• Lethal Hoof Beats: The Rising Toll of Feral Horses and Burros by Jim Jeffress and Paul Roush (The Wildlife Professional, Winter 2010)
  
  
• Affidavit of Kenneth E. Mayer Concerning Wildlife Impacted in Calico Complex - 04/14/2010
  
  
• Reply in Support of Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment - 04/14/2010
  
  
• Letter regarding Wild Horse and Burro Appropriate Management Levels on the Monitor, Hot Creek and Toquima Mountain Ranges by D. Bradford Hardenbrook, NDOW - 03/26/2010
  
  
• Press Release: Salazar Seeks Congressional Support for Sustainable National Program to Manage Iconic Wild Horses 10/07/2009
  
  
• Letter Objecting to Wild Horse-Burro Bill - 10/05/2009
  
  
• Presentation to the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board- Reno, Nevada November 17, 2008 by- Steven Siegel, Habitat Staff Specialist, Nevada Department of Wildlife - 11/07/2008
  
  
• A Letter from Rex Amack, President, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies to Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior – 10/06/2008
  
  
• Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Resolution Management of Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros - 7/16/2008
  
  
• A Letter from Clint Bentley, Vice Chairman, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners to Juan Palma, Field Manager, BLM Las Vegas Office and Lewis Wallenmeyer, Director, Clark County Air Quality & Environmental Management – 11/02/2007
  
  
• A Letter from Clint Bentley, Vice Chairman, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners to Gerald M. Smith, Field Manager, DOI Bureau of Land Management and Steve Williams, District Manager, USDA Forest Service – 7/27/2007
  
  
• Testimony from David E. Pulliam, Jr., Chief of Habitat for the Nevada Department of Wildlife
  Presented to: State Legislative Committee on Public Lands, 10-24-2007
  
  
• A Letter From Terry Crawforth, Director, Nevada Department of Wildlife to Bob Abbey, Nevada State Director, Bureau of Land Management - 10/18/2004
  
  
• A Letter From Tommy Ford, Chairman, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners to Kathleen Clarke, Director, Bureau of Land Management - 08/05/04