Alberta has a new, science-based management framework that’s meant to recognize feral horses and ensure their future sustainability.
More than 1,400 feral horses roam across six equine management zones in Alberta. Some zones face significant challenges to long-term sustainability, the province says, because of the number of horses on the landscape.
Alberta’s public rangelands are productive ecosystems that support many land uses, including wildlife and livestock, the province noted in a recent release.
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As the feral horse population grows, horses move into areas that are less able to support them. This puts pressure on other wildlife and livestock and creates challenges for ecological stability, the province says.
