The Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS) is raising concerns among its large social media following about the Alberta government’s alleged plans to “cull” wild horse populations in the West Country. Provincial officials say, however, there is more to the story.
Cull is defined as ‘a selective slaughter of wild animals’.
An Oct. 30 press release from HAWS alleges the government plans not only to remove the horses but also to sterilize them using a fertility-control vaccine called PZP.
Officials have identified two Equine Management Zones (EMZ): Clearwater near Caroline and Elbow near Bragg Creek.
Darrell Glover, president of HAWS, also serves on the Feral Horse Advisory Committee, which oversees populations in six EMZs. While he could not discuss specifics due to confidentiality agreements, Glover indicated that during a committee meeting earlier this year, the provincial Rangeland Department acknowledged it is considering interventions, including “wild horse removals” and “wild horse contraception.”
He stated that although nothing has been formally approved by the Minister of Forestry and Parks, he believes these actions are imminent. As HAWS has done for a decade, the organization will work to prevent these measures from being implemented.
“This advocacy is a 100 per cent preventative measure to ensure that the government understands public sentiment before announcing removals,” Glover said.
Glover noted that a meeting originally scheduled for September with the Rangeland Department to discuss plans for the winter did not take place. He predicts the government will wait until just before Christmas, when people are distracted, to announce any decisions, avoiding potential backlash.
He added that HAWS will not seek to reschedule the meeting, believing it would be unproductive.
A recent report indicates the wild horse population in the Alberta Foothills fluctuates between 1,000 and 1,500. This population is the second largest in Canada, following the British Columbia Chilcotin wild horse population of about 2,800.
The report addresses concerns about rangeland health due to free-roaming horses but also notes that habitat damage from other sources, such as off-highway vehicles (OHVs), was not considered.
Glover argues that certain control measures are unscientific, as wild horses benefit the environment by consuming dead grass and aiding in seed dispersal because their digestive systems differ from those of cows. “Whatever comes in, goes out,” he said.
In the 550,000-acre Clearwater EMZ west of Caroline, Glover reported that HAWS counted 88 horses, while the government recorded 156 in the same area. He criticized the government’s “ridiculously low threshold” of 99 horses for population control, which would require removing at least 60 horses.
Glover characterized these actions, along with sterilization, as “equine genocide.”
In a Nov. 1 statement provided to 94.5 Rewind Radio News, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Forestry and Parks emphasized that the Alberta government is “committed to protecting feral horses and ensuring their future alongside the ecosystems they inhabit.”
“In areas like the Elbow and Clearwater equine zones, where horse populations are growing rapidly, we’re exploring options like adoption and contraception,” the statement read.
It added that this approach aligns with guidelines in the Feral Horse Management Framework and has support from advocacy groups, grazing organizations, and academics.
“Like many species, management plans are in place to ensure the long-term health of the multi-use landscapes and ecosystems they inhabit. These plans are essential to protect Alberta’s wildlife, grazing animals, and biodiversity,” said spokesperson Pam Davidson. “Following 2024 minimum count surveys, it was determined that action needs to be taken regarding the feral horse populations in the Elbow and Clearwater equine management zones.”
In the September 2024 statement, Davidson reiterated, “Feral horses are a valued part of Alberta’s rich history. We want to assure Albertans that there is no cull (the lethal removal of feral horses) currently planned or anticipated.”
–with files from rdnewsNOW
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