Health Canada has given the green light for a birth control vaccine trial on free-roaming horses in Alberta. The Alberta government deems it necessary to manage horse populations to prevent overgrazing impacts on cattle and wildlife areas. Birth control is part of the strategies outlined in Alberta’s feral horse management framework, along with removal and adoption options.
In late August, Health Canada authorized research on the use of the SpayVac-Equid contraception vaccine in feral horses. However, this approval is solely for research purposes and not for general application. The Alberta government is currently evaluating the specifics of the contraception approval.
A recent survey identified a record 2,072 wild horses in Alberta’s equine management zones, with some zones showing unsustainable population levels. The province views these horses as strays rather than wildlife. In a previous contraception pilot project launched in 2014, a different vaccine was used, but challenges such as cost and terrain complexity were noted.
The new approach involves capturing horses, administering the vaccine manually, and releasing them back into the wild. This method, with a success rate of 85 to 95 percent, aims to prevent conception for several years without altering herd dynamics. The Wild Horses of Alberta Society plans to implement this strategy in the fall, including capturing young stallions as part of population control efforts.
The society, established in 2002, rescues and rehomes horses, ensuring a humane and science-based approach to managing wild horse populations in Alberta.