Health Canada has authorized the testing of a birth control vaccine on free-roaming horses in Alberta to manage the increasing horse populations. The Alberta government deems it necessary to control horse numbers in certain areas to prevent overgrazing that impacts grazing lands for cattle and wildlife.
Contraception is part of the strategies outlined in the province’s feral horse management framework, along with removal from the wild and adoption. In late August, the Alberta government obtained a “research authorization” for the use of the SpayVac-Equid contraception vaccine, according to a Health Canada spokesperson.
The province is currently evaluating the approval details for horse contraception and is collaborating with stakeholders to implement management actions in a safe and science-based manner. A recent feral horse survey identified a record 2,072 wild horses in Alberta’s equine management zones, with some zones showing unsustainable population levels.
A previous contraception pilot project conducted in 2014 by the province and the Wild Horses of Alberta Society utilized a different vaccine, ZonaStat-H, to study population control effectiveness. Challenges faced included high costs and difficulties administering booster shots due to rough terrains where the horses roam.
The new strategy involves capturing horses, administering the contraceptive vaccine manually, and releasing them back into the wild with markings for identification. This method boasts a success rate of 85 to 95 percent, prevents conception for several years, and does not disrupt herd dynamics. Unlike previous contraceptives, SpayVac-Equid does not require booster shots.
The Wild Horses of Alberta Society plans to launch the contraception project in the fall as part of a comprehensive population control strategy, which includes capturing young stallions for removal from the wild. The society also focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and adopting out horses that stray onto private property.
The provincial government aims to manage horse populations effectively to meet the needs of various land users and maintain a balance in the ecosystem without displacing the horses entirely.