Health Canada has given the green light for the testing of a birth control vaccine on free-roaming horses in Alberta. The Alberta government deems it necessary to control the horse population in certain areas to prevent them from overgrazing cattle and wildlife habitats.
Contraception is part of the strategies outlined in Alberta’s feral horse management framework, alongside removal from the wild and adoption. In late August, the Alberta government obtained a “research authorization” to use the contraceptive vaccine SpayVac-Equid on feral horses, as confirmed by a Health Canada spokesperson.
The province is currently evaluating the approval details for horse contraception and is collaborating with stakeholders and advisory committee members to implement population management actions in a humane and science-based manner. The latest feral horse survey revealed a record-high count of 2,072 wild horses in Alberta’s equine management zones, with some zones showing unsustainable population levels.
A new approach, building on previous efforts, involves a partnership between the province and the Wild Horses of Alberta Society. A contraception pilot project launched in 2014 utilized a different vaccine called ZonaStat-H, which showed challenges in administration and cost-effectiveness. The current plan involves capturing horses, administering the SpayVac-Equid vaccine by hand, and releasing vaccinated horses back into the wild with identification markings.
The Wild Horses of Alberta Society president, Jack Nichol, highlighted the success rate of the new method, which prevents conception for several years without altering herd dynamics. The project aims to begin this fall, complemented by the capture of young stallions for population control. The society continues its efforts in rescuing and rehoming horses, emphasizing the importance of managing wild horse populations while keeping all stakeholders satisfied.