Guest Opinion: Wild Horses, Urban Deer, Roaming Bison, and Dead Ideas
Guest Opinion by Dr. Jay Fitzpatrick
More than 35,000 wild horses live on public lands, without rational or effective management, costing taxpayers $75 million annually. In "The Tyranny of Dead Ideas," Matt Miller explained the difficulty of abandoning cultural paradigms that no longer work. This concept is particularly relevant to the management of troublesome wildlife.
Beyond wild horses, there is intolerance for urban deer, leading to culling in populated areas. Park bison in the U.S. and elephants in South Africa reproduce and cause issues when they leave preserves. Even zoo populations face challenges due to finite space and lack of humane outlets for surplus animals. Traditional management focuses on removal, often lethal, which exacerbates the problem by encouraging reproduction among the remaining animals. This leads to public discord and a poor outcome for the animals.
A century ago, humanity recognized the dangers of uncontrolled reproduction in a world of finite resources, leading to the development of fertility control. Fifty years ago, the focus for controlling dog and cat populations shifted from euthanasia to fertility control (spay and neuter). So why is this concept foreign to wildlife management? Are we tied to dead ideas?
Wildlife Fertility Control Works
- Thirty wild horse populations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, along with wild horse sanctuaries and Native American reservations, use fertility control.
- Urban deer populations in four states are managed with fertility control.
- African elephants in 17 South African game parks are successfully managed with fertility control.
- A bison herd in California achieved zero population growth in one year using fertility control.
- Over 200 zoos in North America and 12 countries manage more than 85 species with fertility control.
- Feral sheep in England and urban kangaroos in Australia are managed with fertility control agents.
Animals placed in precarious situations are not being killed or removed, benefiting all parties. The technology for fertility control has advanced rapidly across five continents, with most no longer considered experimental. In the U.S., three wildlife contraceptives are federally approved, with a fourth pending. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums promotes wildlife contraceptives, and a sister group exists in Europe. Seven international conferences have been held on this subject.
Yet, controversy and dead ideas persist. Paranoia about impacts on recreational hunting limits fertility control applications. What ethical sportsman would enjoy shooting a human-habituated deer in a city park?
Why does the cultural paradigm of rounding up wild horses with helicopters, despite stress and economic costs, prevail? Why does polarization between wildlife agencies, hunters, and animal welfare advocates prevent rational approaches? Often, opinion trumps peer-reviewed scientific studies.
Wildlife fertility control is here to stay, progressing faster in some situations and species. As new personnel join management organizations, attitudes are changing. As human populations grow, wildlife faces greater challenges. Our responsibility to provide humane stewardship becomes imperative for a civilized society.