This week on Now You Know, Kathryn Sussman talks with Julie Woodyer, Campaigns Director at Zoocheck Inc., and one of the most competent animal advocates working in Canada today. Julie tells us all about Canada’s wild horse populations, their history, their cultural significance, and their importance to Canada’s biodiversity. Learn in detail about the current plight of Alberta’s wild horses, the ones that most need our protection, and what you can do to help keep them free.

In this informative interview, Julie outlines how wild horses urgently need federal protection if they are to continue to exist in Canada. She underscores how this is a crucial necessity in Alberta in particular, where there are currently only 1,700 wild horses left. Julie also describes three other populations of wild horses across the country: the Sable Island horses of Nova Scotia, The Bronson Forest horses of Saskatchewan, and the Chilcotin horses of B.C.. Despite the fact that wild horses are a reintroduced species, they should be recognized as a native species (as they have originated and co-evolved with their habitat), and are an important part of Canada’s natural history. Julie gives us a wake-up call that they are currently in danger of extinction. 

Enacting federal legislation to protect them, rather than the patchwork approach we have today, Julie underscores, would ensure that this iconic beautiful species will still exist for future generations. Furthermore, recognizing wild horses as the descendants of the wild horses that originated in our country would reflect Canada’s humane appreciation of this culturally specific group of animals. Canada’s modern wild horses are distinct in nature and in appearance from other horses, and are genetically equivalent to the wild horses that existed in North America just a few thousand years ago. 
 
Wild horses are furthermore, Julie tells us, an excellent opportunity for Alberta and the other provinces to attract tourism. They are one of the only wild species that can reliably and happily be observed in their natural environment, and for this reason are a large attraction for visitors and wild horse photographers here in Canada, and around the world. Currently this tourism opportunity is under-utilized.
 
Julie also lets us know that protecting wild horses does not interfere with any other species’ survival. There is no scientific evidence that the horses have created any significant ecosystem degradation. In fact, they serve multiple purposes in helping their ecosystems to thrive. 
 
“The best possible plan would be for the federal government to set up some protection for wild horses in this country, similar to what has been done in the United States… if we are going to do something in Canada we want something meaningful that will actually provide proper protection for these animals and acknowledge them as important, both culturally and to our biodiversity.”

Now you know:

Be part of the change: 

  • Participate in discussions and share your knowledge to educate your network on the fact that yes! Canada has wild horses and they are in need of protection!
  • Write to the premier of Alberta and express your wish for Alberta’s wild horses to be protected.
  • Ask the prime minister and your MP for federal legislation to be enacted to protect all of Canada’s wild horses so that we no longer have a patchwork of insufficient laws and policies.
  • Take a trip to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and observe wild horses in the wild!
  • Help us spread the word by sharing this podcast in your network!

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