Health Canada has given the green light for a birth control vaccine to be trialed on wild horses in Alberta. The Alberta government deems it necessary to manage horse populations in certain areas to prevent overgrazing of cattle and wildlife habitats.
The contraception strategy is part of the feral horse management framework, which includes options like removal from the wild and adoption. Health Canada confirmed that a “research authorization” was granted for the use of the SpayVac-Equid vaccine in feral horses, specifically for study purposes.
Alberta officials are currently reviewing the specifics of the contraception approval. The latest feral horse survey revealed a record 2,072 wild horses within the province’s equine management zones, with some zones showing unsustainable population levels.
In a bid to control the wild horse population, a new approach is being implemented, building upon a previous contraception pilot project initiated in 2014. The former project utilized a different vaccine called ZonaStat-H, but encountered challenges due to high costs and the rugged terrain where the horses roam.
The Wild Horses of Alberta Society is gearing up to launch a contraception project this autumn, focusing on capturing horses to administer the vaccine manually before releasing them back into the wild. This method is anticipated to have a high success rate, lasting for three to four years without affecting herd dynamics.
The society, along with the provincial government, aims to strike a balance between managing wild horse populations and ensuring land user satisfaction. The Wild Horses of Alberta Society has been actively involved in rescuing and rehoming horses since its establishment in 2002.