Alberta wild horse population sparks debate over future herd management
Posted May 8, 2026 12:54 pm.
Alberta’s wild horse population has jumped to nearly 2,100 animals, according to the provincial government, a surge that has ignited dispute between officials and advocates over what comes next.
The province says its annual feral horse surveys, conducted in February and March 2026, shows an increase of 600 in four equine management zones.
Officials insist the minimum counts are scientifically reliable, noting that the survey methods are aligned with those used inother jurisdictions and endorsed by the Office of the Chief Scientist.
The government also stresses that no horses will be euthanized, and that the Feral Horse Advisory Committee will meet in June to discuss management strategies focused on adoption and contraception.
Darrell Glover, founder of the Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS), strongly disputes the government’s count.
He argues a 600 horse increase in a single year is “not biologically possible,” and says the province is preparing to reduce herd numbers to satisfy ranching interests concerned about grazing competition.
Glover also says he was removed from the advisory committee after refusing to sign a confidentiality clause.
“I can’t sign that, I wouldn’t sign that,” he says.
HAWS claims the rangeland system is “cattle association–oriented” and that ranching lobbyists have long influenced horse management decisions. The government, meanwhile, maintains that managing feral horses is essential to protecting biodiversity, wildlife, and grazing lands.
Glover also accuses Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen of ignoring a 15,188‑signature petition calling for a moratorium on removals and contraception programs.
Despite that, he believes the province is “ramping up efforts again to reduce the herd.”
The province says the advisory committee will meet next month to review management options, with adoption and contraception still identified as the preferred tools. No new measures have been implemented yet.
