VRWPA https://vrwpa.com/ Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:18:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://vrwpa.com/wpSite/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cropped-vrwpa-color-logo-FINAL-32x32.jpg VRWPA https://vrwpa.com/ 32 32 199167296 Virginia Range Clean Up https://vrwpa.com/virginia-range-clean-up/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 22:31:43 +0000 https://vrwpa.com/?p=1180 Remote areas on the Virginia Range in Northern Nevada become a dumping ground for all kinds of trash.  Broken glass bottles, aluminum cans, furniture and even old discarded cars,become a scourge on the landscape.  Of course, this is dangerous for wild horses and wildlife.  David McCraw, CEO / Publisher of the Nevada Country Magazine, spearheaded a clean-up project.  On Saturday October […]

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]]> Remote areas on the Virginia Range in Northern Nevada become a dumping ground for all kinds of trash.  Broken glass bottles, aluminum cans, furniture and even old discarded cars,become a scourge on the landscape.  Of course, this is dangerous for wild horses and wildlife.  David McCraw, CEO / Publisher of the Nevada Country Magazine, spearheaded a clean-up project.  On Saturday October 22, 2023, a group of twelve volunteers came out to remove debris from the hillsides where development meets open space.

On that clear and sunny day, the dedicated people that offered their time were rewarded with the attention of two majestic Pinto stallions.  The wild horses watched over the volunteers as they combed the hillsides removing junk.  Almost in appreciation, a few bachelors closely observed the activity.  A big thank you to members of Wild Horse Preservation League (WHPL) and Virginia Range Wildlife Projection Association (VRWPA) in joining the worthwhile effort.

If you are interested in helping with VRWPA’s clean up efforts, please call 775 583-7401 and leave a message. See you on the range!

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]]> 1180 Carson City Dump Fencing Project https://vrwpa.com/carson-city-dump-fencing-project/ Sat, 23 Dec 2023 19:48:50 +0000 https://vrwpa.com/?p=1134 This fencing project is complete. A write-up of the project is still in draft.

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]]> This fencing project is complete. A write-up of the project is still in draft.

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]]> 1134 Washoe Lake Fencing Project https://vrwpa.com/washoe-lake-fencing-project/ Thu, 28 Oct 2021 17:19:49 +0000 https://vrwpa.com/?p=706 The post Washoe Lake Fencing Project appeared first on VRWPA.

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]]> 706 Newsletter https://vrwpa.com/newsletter/ Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:48:40 +0000 https://vrwpa.com/?p=597 The post Newsletter appeared first on VRWPA.

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]]> 597 Birth Control – PZP https://vrwpa.com/birth-control-pzp/ Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:13:17 +0000 https://vrwpa.com/?p=343 With the cooperative agreement, signed in 2015, VRWPA agreed to implement humane fertility control measures to reduce the population. Thanks to American Wild Horse Campaign four volunteers were sent to The Science and Conservation Center in Billings MT to take the Wild Horse Immunocontraception Certification Training under Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick.  In September 2015, mares in the […]

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]]> With the cooperative agreement, signed in 2015, VRWPA agreed to implement humane fertility control measures to reduce the population. Thanks to American Wild Horse Campaign four volunteers were sent to The Science and Conservation Center in Billings MT to take the Wild Horse Immunocontraception Certification Training under Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick.  In September 2015, mares in the Virginia Range were darted with PZP vaccine for birth control. In November 2017, Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) terminated the agreement that had allowed VRWPA and other local horse advocate groups to administer PZP, at no cost to the State of Nevada. In the early part of 2019, the Governor, Steve Sisolak, was approached by local business leaders of companies primarily located at Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center to consider restarting the wild horse birth control program. On April 9, 2019, darting resumed on the Virginia Range and continues today.

Biology of Porcine Zona Pellucida Immunocontraception

What is PZP and How Does It Work?:  A non-cellular membrane known as the zona pellucida (ZP) surrounds all mammalian eggs.  The ZP consists of several glycoproteins (proteins with some carbohydrate attached), one of which, ZP3 is thought to be the sperm receptor (the molecule which permits attachent of the sperm to the egg during the process of fertiliaztion).  The PZP vaccine is derived from the ZP protein from pig eggs.  When this vaccine is injected into the muscle of the target female animal, it stimulates her immune system to produce antibodies against the vaccine.  These antibodies also attach to the sperm receptors on the ZP of the female’s own eggs and distorts their shape, thereby blocking fertilization. (see Paterson and Aitkin 1990).  

Thus far PZP has been a successful form of contraception in wildlife because (1) it has prevented preganancy an average of 90% or greater of the time in treated animals, (2) it can be delivered remotely by small darts, (3) the cantraceptive effects are reversible, (4) it is effective across many species, (5) there are no debilitating health side-effects even after long-term use, (6) it has almost no effects on social behaviors, (7) the vaccine cannot pass through the food chain and (8) it is safe to give to pregnant animals (see Kirkpatrick et al. 2009).

Assateague Island National Seashore has clearly been the single most successful wild horse fertility control project ever conducted.  It has been ongoing for over 28 years.

For more information on PZP, visit The Science and Conservation Center

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]]> 343 Centennial Park Fencing https://vrwpa.com/centennial-park-fencing/ Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:12:53 +0000 https://vrwpa.com/?p=345 VRWPA is working with the Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space to install a fence at Centennial Park. This fence will help keep the wild horses in the hills and off the golf course, softball fields and out of the businesses and neighborhoods as well. There will be a pedestrian access to the trail […]

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]]> VRWPA is working with the Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space to install a fence at Centennial Park. This fence will help keep the wild horses in the hills and off the golf course, softball fields and out of the businesses and neighborhoods as well.

There will be a pedestrian access to the trail head as well as a gate for 4×4 vehicles. The fence should be completed before the end of October 2019.

VRWPA is providing 100 percent of the funding — through donations — for the installation and Carson City will be responsible for maintenance and repairs. VRWPA is a 501c3 nonprofit located in Virginia City. Any financial assistance would be greatly appreciated and is tax deductible.

Janine on the Virginia Range

Janine was one of our mares that lost her life when she was injured by a car. Other horses have met the same fate on these busy roads. Please keep this from happening to other wild horses by donating now. Any donation will help make an impact and save a life. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.

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