For the past 13 years WHOAS has been working on solutions for wild horse population management and has always felt that the Alberta wild horses require proper humane management and protection.
The wild horses’ only protection now is under the Stray Animal Act which at the minimum gives them some protection as it is against the law to shoot, hunt or snare them to capture them. However, under the auspices of the Minister of the Department of the Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, an annual capture season can be declared and wild horses can be captured and removed from this environment by licensed horse trappers.
Good News, November, 2014
In November of 2014 WHOAS entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the province of Alberta. This is a 5 year agreement which is allowing WHOAS to undertake two programs in a large portion of the Sundre Equine Zone:
- A contraception program for wild horse mares
- An adoption program where we can rescue wild horses that may get themselves into trouble on private land or that are found abandoned or injured.
You can read the MOU by clicking on the following link which will open in a new window.
If you have questions, please email us at WHOASalberta@gmail.com
Wild Mare Contraception – What’s it all about?
The immuno-contraception program for wild horse mares is explained in the following document and over time will show that wild horse herd populations can be managed. Under the direction of our team leader, our veterinarian, WHOAS has three other field personnel who were trained and are certified from attending the program taught at the Science and Conservation Centre, Billings, MT.
The Wild Horses of Alberta Society 