Wild Horse Cull Lacks Supporting Scientific Evidence

February 1, 2016

AWHC Contributor

A comprehensive investigation into the Alberta government's claims of wild horse overpopulation and ecological damage reveals a lack of scientific evidence. This review, conducted over a year and a half, scrutinizes the assertions made by the government regarding the ecological impact of wild horses.

Investigation and Findings

Zoocheck reviewed all publicly available materials and additional documentation, including letters, notes, and reports obtained through provincial Freedom of Information requests. On-site visits were conducted to observe free-roaming horses and their habitats. A technical review of the Alberta free-roaming (feral) horse management program was prepared by expert consultant biologist Wayne McCrory.

The expert report and other materials were forwarded to Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips in December 2015 to inform her 2016 capture permit decision-making process; the Minister’s decision is imminent.

“The report reveals that there is no science supporting the capture for ecological reasons of additional wild horses in Alberta. Furthermore, government officials are unable to point to any evidence of rangeland damage attributable to wild horses,” says Julie Woodyer, Campaign Director for Zoocheck.

Current Situation and Concerns

Alberta Government representatives claim they want to ensure some wild horses remain on the landscape, but captures have continued without scientific justification and with no regard for the genetic integrity of the free-roaming horse populations. According to the Alberta Government, there are now fewer than 800 free-roaming horses in all of Alberta, fragmented into sub-populations, numbers that experts say are far too low.

“Wild horse populations in other parts of Canada are protected, but Alberta’s wild horses are being managed toward extinction. They have already been nearly extirpated in the Brazeau Equine Zone due to government-sanctioned captures,” Woodyer adds. “We hope the Minister will move this issue away from making a purely political decision to satisfy the small subset of ranchers who don’t want the horses, to what the information and science actually shows.”

Ecological Impact and Recommendations

Renowned wild horse ecologist Craig Downer recently released his own expert report on the Alberta wild horse issue. Downer describes extensive damage by logging, oil and gas, ranching, and other industries in the Alberta Foothills, and says that retaining healthy wild horse populations on the landscape is a key strategy to its recovery.

During his 12-day visit to the Alberta foothills, Downer conducted 38 ecological evaluations in various diverse types of habitat. He describes in detail severe damage from human activities and outlines how horses assist in building healthy soil and dispersing more intact seeds from a greater variety of plants compared to cattle. He recommends that wild horses, who coevolved with the habitats they now live in, be allowed to fill their ecological niche and play their natural role.

Zoocheck forwarded Downer’s report to Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips in early January 2016 to inform her 2016 capture permit decision-making process.

“Craig Downer’s new report provides critical information to help recover Alberta’s natural ecosystems and outlines why wild horses are an essential part of that recovery, something not previously considered in the horse management program,” says Julie Woodyer, Campaign Director for Zoocheck. “We hope that the Minister will consider the positive ecological role wild horses play in Alberta’s ecosystems, and seek to take a science-based approach to managing horses in Alberta to better rebuild natural ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.”