Sources:  Various

Members of the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commission (NBWC) have written a letter to the State Engineer for Water Resources stating that wild horses and burros in Nevada have no legal classification as wildlife and as such, are not entitled to state water.

Currently, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holds state water permits for the benefit of wildlife on public lands.  

The committee of the NBWC which manages state interests related to wild horses and burros, The Feral Horse Committee, contends that

1. The horses and burros are feral, not wild.
2. Horses within the state are classified as livestock.
3. The federal government does not own the animals, either as livestock or 'wild' animals.
4. Since the federal government does not own the animals, it is not legally allowed to apply for water permits for them.
5. Therefore, free roaming horses and burros are illegally using Nevada resources and must be removed immediately.

The state water engineer told the Associated Press in an article, Water use for wild horses questioned by Nev. panel, that he can only issue permits in accordance with state law.

The letter now stands as a draft by the NBWC and the committee is scheduled to meet on January 18 to discuss the matter further.