Society continues work with vaccine, shelter for Alberta’s wild horses

SUNDRE, Alta. – The Wild Horses of Alberta Society says it has lots of projects to keep it busy this winter.

President Bob Henderson says the society has begun a contraceptive vaccine program on mares in an attempt to lower the wild herd population. A new shelter is also to be built west of Sundre in the coming weeks to house horses that the society rescues.

Henderson says the group saved nine horses this summer that had strayed onto private property.

READ MORE: Premier weighs in on Alberta’s controversial wild horse capture 

In March, Alberta Environment said it counted 880 feral horses in the Rocky Mountain foothills.

A roundup earlier this year upset animal rights activists, but others said the horses compete for grass with cattle and wild animals such as elk.