Full Breakdown
Alberta’s Feral Horse Population Hits Record Levels, Sparking Management Dispute
5/3/2026, 9:13:19 PM
Record Numbers Prompt Provincial Management Action
In April, Alberta’s annual feral-horse survey recorded at least 2,072 free-roaming horses across six equine-management zones—the highest total ever. The Sundre, Ghost River, Elbow and Clearwater zones were labeled “not ecologically sustainable,” and Sundre’s count surpassed its 1,000-horse threshold, triggering the province’s “unacceptable” designation. The 2023 framework permits licensed capture for sale, adoption programs and mare contraception when thresholds are exceeded, aiming to protect grazing land for cattle and wildlife.
Key Numbers
Provincial data place Sundre’s herd at 1,303 horses, 303 above the 1,000-horse limit. The Help Alberta Wildies Society, led by pilot Darrell Glover, counted 1,005 horses in the same zone—just over the limit and far below the government’s figure. Glover notes the prior provincial count was 855, a rise he calls “physically and biologically impossible.” The province’s total of 2,072 includes the Sundre count and the remaining horses in the other zones.
Official Statements & Responses
Loewen said the survey method has not changed; clearer snow this year improved visibility for helicopters and crews, leading to higher counts. He stressed the need to protect grazing resources and announced that Alberta is seeking federal approval for mare contraception this year. Glover pointed to nearly 700,000 Facebook followers and a petition with over 15,000 signatures urging the province to reclassify the horses as a naturalized wild species rather than stray animals.
Criticism & Opposition
Glover accused officials of ignoring family bonds, saying removal “doesn’t care which colt loses its mom.” Ranchers, who view the herds as competition for limited forage, continue to call for removal, underscoring a clash between conservation advocates and agricultural interests.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The province’s 1,303-horse Sundre count conflicts with the advocacy group’s 1,005 figure, and officials have not confirmed whether capture operations are underway. Data on actual removals and on the effectiveness of upcoming contraception are still missing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We only count them when we see them, and with good snow conditions then we're more likely to see them,” — Todd Loewen, Forestry and Parks Minister
- “They don't care which family gets broken up. They don't care which colt loses its mom. They don't care as long as they're removed.” — Darrell Glover, Founder, Help Alberta Wildies Society
- “We want to keep feral horses on the landscape.” — Todd Loewen, Forestry and Parks Minister
- “The Alberta government, and myself as the minister, are really the only ones on the landscape that actually provide honest, serious protection to the feral horses,” — Todd Loewen, Forestry and Parks Minister
What’s Next
Alberta is awaiting federal clearance to apply contraceptives to mares later this year, while the status of licensed capture efforts remains unclear. Ongoing monitoring and additional surveys will inform future adjustments to the management framework.
