Health Canada has given the green light for a birth control vaccine trial to be conducted on free-roaming horses in Alberta. The Alberta government deems it necessary to manage horse populations to prevent excessive grazing impacts on cattle and wildlife areas. Contraception is part of the strategies outlined in the province’s feral horse management framework, alongside removal from the wild and adoption.
In late August, Health Canada granted a “research authorization” for the use of the SpayVac-Equid contraception vaccine on feral horses. The federal agency clarified that this authorization is for research purposes only and not for general use.
The Alberta government is currently reviewing the approval specifics related to horse contraception. The province aims to implement management actions in a safe, humane, and science-based manner, focusing on data collection and adoption efforts.
Recent feral horse surveys in Alberta identified 2,072 wild horses across six equine management zones, the highest count on record. The Sundre, Ghost River, Elbow, and Clearwater zones were flagged as having 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 called ZonaStat-H. The project highlighted challenges such as high costs, rough terrain, and the need for widespread contraceptive coverage to achieve population reduction.
The current approach involves capturing horses, administering the SpayVac-Equid vaccine manually, and releasing them back into the wild with identification markings. This method boasts a high success rate, lasting contraceptive effects, and no necessity for booster shots.
The Wild Horses of Alberta Society plans to kick off the contraception project in the fall as part of a comprehensive population control strategy, which includes capturing young stallions for removal. The society also focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and adopting out horses that stray onto private properties.
