Health Canada has granted approval for a birth control vaccine to be trialed on free-roaming horses in Alberta. The Alberta government deems managing horse populations crucial to prevent excessive grazing on cattle and wildlife areas in certain regions of the province.
One of the strategies outlined in the province’s feral horse management framework is contraception, alongside removal from the wild and adoption. A “research authorization” was obtained by the Alberta government in late August for the use of the SpayVac-Equid contraception vaccine on feral horses, confirmed by a Health Canada spokesperson.
The current focus is on reviewing the approval specifics related to horse contraception, with efforts aimed at implementing management actions in a safe, humane, and science-based approach. The latest feral horse survey in Alberta identified a record 2,072 wild horses, with population levels in several zones considered unsustainable.
In past initiatives, a contraception pilot project was launched in 2014 by the province and the Wild Horses of Alberta Society to assess the effectiveness of population control. The project involved administering a vaccine called ZonaStat-H via darts, with findings indicating high costs and logistical challenges in administering booster shots in rough terrains.
The new approach involves capturing horses for manual vaccine administration and release back into the wild, with marked vaccinated horses for future identification. This method, according to Wild Horses of Alberta Society president Jack Nichol, boasts a high success rate, prevents conception for several years, and maintains herd dynamics. The new vaccine, SpayVac-Equid, eliminates the need for booster shots and has a 85 to 95 percent success rate.
The upcoming contraception project aims to commence in the fall as part of a comprehensive population control strategy that includes capturing a limited number of young stallions for removal from the wild. The Wild Horses of Alberta Society continues its efforts in rescuing, rehabilitating, and facilitating adoptions for horses, with over 200 horses aided since its inception in 2002.