Overview
Alberta’s feral horse populations range the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains between the Sheep and Brazeau Rivers. Feral horses are believed to be descendants of abandoned or released domestic horses that once were used in logging, guiding and outfitting operations in the early 1900s.
Over the years, escaped and illegally released horses have supplemented the population of feral horses and have helped to establish the distinct populations found in Alberta today. The largest population in the province is found west of the town of Sundre.
Albertans have always felt a strong connection to feral horses, due in part to the role that their ancestors played in settling the west. Horses served vital roles in labour in the fields, providing transportation and improving the quality of life for settlers in Alberta.
Release of domestic horses is illegal according to Section 16 of the Forest Reserves Regulation, part of Alberta’s Forest Reserves Act.
Impact on rangelands
Alberta’s public rangelands are productive ecosystems that support many different land uses including:
- recreation
- forestry and resource extraction
- wildlife
- livestock
- feral horses
All of these uses need to be managed to ensure public lands continue to provide important watershed protection, water filtration, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and vegetation for wildlife and livestock grazing.
Public rangelands produce a finite amount of forage. Seasonal livestock grazing on public land begins in summer to protect sensitive rangeland species in the spring during the initial part of the growing season.
Rangelands become degraded if they do not receive sufficient rest or when cumulative grazing pressure by domestic stock, wildlife and feral horses exceeds the carrying capacity of the plant communities with an area. Without sufficient rest, especially during sensitive time periods, rangeland ecosystem health can deteriorate and lead to an increase in non-native plant species that may not have as high an ecological value.
Legislation
The distribution and size of horse populations have resulted in the need for population management programs to minimize negative effects on rangelands while also ensuring a stable population of feral horses. Provisions for the management of feral horses is regulated under the Horse Capture Regulation.
In the early 1990s, concerns about mistreatment of horses captured on public land led the Alberta government to create the Horse Capture Regulation under the Stray Animals Act. This regulation was developed to ensure humane treatment of feral horses during round-up and restricted the use of inhumane methods of capture, including the use of snares.
According to the Stray Animals Act individuals releasing animals will be charged for all costs of capturing, identifying, transporting and selling the animal, as well as any damages caused by the animal on private property.
In addition to horse captures, the department is currently reviewing other management strategies and their viability, including immunocontraceptives and adoption.
Feral horse counts
2022 feral horse minimum count survey summary
Survey time period: February and March 2022
Equine management zones covered: Brazeau, Clearwater, Elbow, Ghost River, Nordegg and Sundre
Number of horses Counted: 1178
Minimum counts have been conducted since 2009. Minimum counts provide a baseline of horses seen in preferred habitats. These types of surveys are conducted in each individual zone as funding permits.
Since 2017, Sundre and Ghost River areas have been surveyed using both total minimum count and distance sampling methodologies. Distance sampling is a common method used for conducting wildlife surveys and provides more statistical rigour when considering population changes across years.
Survey counts since 2013:
- 2013: 980
- 2014: 880
- 2015: 709
- 2016: 854
- 2017: 1202
- 2018: 1712
- 2019: 1679
- 2021: 1314
- 2022: 1178
How feral horse surveys are conducted
Maps
Maps and charts summarizing the annual results of Alberta’s feral horse survey counts from 2013 to 2022 may be reviewed at:
Note that no survey count was taken in 2020.
Feral Horse Advisory Committee
The committee has been re-established and will provide expert advice to improve feral horse management in Alberta.
Read more about the Feral Horse Advisory Committee
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