It’s hard to miss the horses on the way to the mountains.

They’ve established free-roaming populations throughout the foothills and grasslands of Alberta’s eastern slopes, with herds of wild horses almost guaranteed to be seen off Highway 1 west of Calgary year-round.

But the abundance of what the Alberta government calls “feral horses” has reached “unacceptable” levels, according to the province’s horse management strategy.

  • sbv@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    That’s really interesting. Thanks for those links.

    IMO the question is whether current ecosystems are degraded by the reintroduction of horses. It sounds like they have a negative impact on existing ungulates and (maybe?) soils.

    I don’t know enough to say if an ecosystem that has existed for 12,000 years without horses that has horses reintroduction, is being degraded or returned to its previous state.

    • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
      11·
      2 days ago

      As an aside the main reason Marlaina is pushing for a large cull (based on quack numbers) is because the cattle ranchers push for it every year.

      Removing the horses won’t help the environment because they’ll just be replaced by herds of cattle.