Nevada Sheldon

Nevada’s Sheldon and Desert National Wildlife Refuges

Coalition for Nevada's Wildlife? Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn? Friends of Nevada Wilderness

Nevada Bighorn Umlimited-Reno Nevada Bowhunters Association? Nevada Cattlemen's Association?

Nevada Chukar Foundation? Nevada Outfitters & Guides Association? Nevada Mule Deer Foundation?

Nevada Muleys? Nevada Wilderness Project Nevada Wildlife Federation?

Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners (former)? Red Rock Audubon Society? Sierra Club – Toiyabe Chapter?

Society for Range Management – Nevada Section? The Wildlife Society – Nevada Chapter? Jim Yoakum, retired pronghorn biologist?

Dear Senators Reid and Ensign and Congressman Heller and Congresswomen Berkley and Titus:

Major threats face Nevada’s Sheldon and Desert National Wildlife Refuges. We are asking you to work together across party lines to help us find a solution.

One of these threats is potential uranium mining in the Sheldon Refuge. The root problem is that both refuges need a permanent mineral withdrawal. Neither refuge has been fully closed to mining under that 1872 mining law. In the Sheldon Refuge, there are recent mining claims staked for uranium in the very sensitive Virgin Valley (the most biologically diverse area in the refuge). While virtually all wildlife refuges are withdrawn from mining, much of Sheldon and Desert Refuges were not because they came into the Fish and Wildlife Refuge system as “game ranges”, not “refuges”. Both refuges have administratively tried to protect refuge values through the use of temporary administrative withdrawals but that that is not a long-term solution. We do not intend for the popular opal mining within the refuge to be affected. Both Sheldon and Desert National Wildlife Refuges have been set aside to be refuges in the true sense of the word for pronghorn and bighorn sheep and many other species that are running out of large undisturbed places to call home.

Additionally, the Fish and Wildlife Service needs regulations to manage the on-going mining that now exists in places like the Sheldon Refuge. As unlikely as it sounds, the Service does not have mining regulations.

The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is bearing the brunt of too many horses and burros. The Sheldon Refuge was established back in the 1930’s by some very forward looking groups and individuals concerned that America’s pronghorn antelope was nearly extinct. Their idea was to set aside a refuge for these beautiful animals extensive enough for them to live their entire life within its boundaries so as not to be affected by land practices outside the refuge. Executive Order #7522 which established the refuge stated “That the natural forage resources therein shall be first utilized for the purpose of sustaining in a healthy condition a maximum of 3,500 antelope, the primary species…”

Unfortunately, competition with livestock and now with exploding populations of horses has contributed to keeping pronghorn numbers well below the 3,500 goal. Livestock permits were purchased and retired back in the mid-1990s but since that time horse numbers have skyrocketed from less than 150 to nearly 1,500 according to refuge staff. Not only is there direct completion for food but the larger horses are tearing up springs and have been seen chasing off the smaller pronghorn and bighorn sheep from water. Horses outweigh and out eat pronghorn (1,000 plus pounds versus a little over 100 pounds). Currently on the Sheldon Refuge, over 80% of the refuge budget is spent trying to address the impact of horses and burro. Their numbers are increasing faster than Fish and Wildlife Service’s ability to remove them. This is money not being spent on restoring diverse and quality habitat for pronghorn and other species like sage-grouse, pygmy rabbits, song birds and other important species. There are many, many other places in Nevada and the west where horses and burros can roam freely.

In summary, we believe that by working together, we can find common sense solutions to these threats. We would be happy to work with you to help improve the condition of our refuges for our wildlife, for our sportsmen and recreationists and for our future.