Alberta's Free Roaming Horses Receive Birth Control in Pilot Project

As the debate around Alberta’s free roaming horses continues, a new pilot project aims to control their numbers through contraception. The Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS) has vaccinated 73 mares as part of this initiative.

The Wild Horses of Alberta Society received permission from the Alberta government to implement a birth control program in the Sundre area. This initiative is part of a broader effort to manage the horse population effectively.

“We are making progress,” said Bob Henderson, president of WHOAS.

The society is part of an advisory committee that includes outfitters, ranchers, veterinarians, conservation groups, and rangeland experts. This committee assists the province in managing the horses.

Some committee members believe the horses are overpopulating the landscape. The most recent aerial count in March 2016 found at least 851 horses in the Foothills area.

“There is a continued need to manage the effects feral horses have on rangeland, wildlife habitat, reforestation, and public safety,” said Jamie Hanlon, a spokesman with Alberta Environment and Parks. “Management options may still include removal.”

The advisory committee has provided recommendations for managing the populations, including developing a long-term strategy.

“We are temporarily deferring a decision on future feral horse roundups while the department completes the recommended work on a long-term management plan,” Hanlon added.

In the meantime, the province will continue with the pilot contraception program with WHOAS and evaluate its potential to limit population growth in certain areas.

Other horse advocates prefer leaving the horses alone, but Henderson stated that’s not an option. “We have to come up with a solution,” he explained, noting that the contraceptive program could help control the population.

WHOAS has vaccinated 73 mares with the ‘Zona Stat-H’ contraceptive vaccine, which reduces the likelihood of conception by 70 to 80 percent in the first year. Booster shots, which increase the likelihood to 90 percent, have been given to 16 mares.

The contraception wears off after several years, according to the group.

Darrell Glover, of Help Alberta Wildies, expressed concern over the number of horses vaccinated in the first year. “My feeling is they’ve gone too far with too many mares,” he said. “It’s definitely going to have an impact on foals next spring.”

WHOAS is still determining the program’s effectiveness in managing the population and figuring out what percentage of female horses need to be vaccinated to stabilize growth.

“It is hoped that the program will be at the center of humane wild horse management measures designed to replace former wild horse culls that resulted in many horses being sent to slaughter,” the group stated in a report to the community.

Henderson noted that the number of horses in the Sundre area has grown to 543 from 440 in the latest count.

“Quite a few stakeholders are still calling for a reduction,” he said, emphasizing the need to determine a sustainable number for the area. “How can you have a cull if you don’t know that number?”

“If we can show we can stabilize it, maybe we can convince these people.”

Both advocacy groups hope the province will continue to hold off on future culls until the contraceptive program's effectiveness is assessed.

“We’re saying don’t cull,” said Henderson. “We’re fighting hard.”

Glover added: “It would be totally irresponsible to go ahead with a cull.”

Originally posted by Calgary Herald