by Dr. Claudia Notzke
I am not ashamed to say that looking at these pictures almost made me physically ill -not the picures themselves, but the idea that this mindless cruelty and destruction of life is continuing in Alberta’s Foothills. This latest tragedy brings the body count of destroyed wild horses (at least those who were found) west of Sundre to 27 (or 28 counting the unborn foal) over the last 6 years.
When I started my wild horse research in 2006, I knew that it would be challenging and at times heart-rending, but I was not really prepared for being confronted with such base human behaviour to the extent that it is happening right here in Alberta. Senseless violence perpetrated against wild horses is a common occurrence in some parts of the United States, as exemplified by the 1998 “Reno Massacre” in Nevada, where thirty-four mustangs were gunned down. The same area has also been the scene of horrific crimes against humans. As Canadians we have come to think of our country as a kinder and gentler place than the US – maybe somewhat naively but well in sync with the world’s perception of Canada. These events, however, make one wonder, at least in our beautiful province. Alberta’s Foothills country is a region of small and close-knit communities, and crimes of this type are difficult to solve. However, considering that after all these deaths no one has ever been identified and charged with a crime, it is difficult not to perceive a “conspiracy of silence” and a disconcerting lack of determination and political will on the part of those investigating such events. The fact that we cannot do better by these animals makes me feel small as an Albertan and a Canadian.
What is equally disconcerting is the probability that should somebody actually be charged with the shootings, consequences would likely be negligible, even though in Alberta the shooting and hunting of horses is illegal according to section 444 of the Criminal Code. In the United States mustangs on federal lands are managed as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the west” under the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act. The deplorable state of wild horses in the US and the lack of effective prosecution of crimes against them provide ample evidence that without the integrity and political will to actually carry out and enforce legislation, such legislation is worse than useless. In western Canada we do not even pretend to acknowledge the wild horse as integral part of our western frontier history, let alone as playing a legitimate role in the ecosystem. Wild horses are considered “stray animals” with no dollar value attached to them as either livestock or huntable wildlife.
Such thinking is not only ignorant and uninformed but also extremely shortsighted. Closer investigation reveals exciting opportunities represented by wild horses: ecological opportunities of wild horses as habitat enhancers (and intrigueing research opportunities for up and coming biologists); opportunities associated with wild horses as cultural and genetic heritage; and -for many people most important- economic opportunities, capitalizing on wild horses as a tourism attraction. The early stages of my research on wild-horse based tourism are showing truly surprising results. All these opportunities I would be happy to talk about on another occasion.
These opportunities will be forever lost unless more Canadians and Albertans in particular step up to the challenge of making their voices heard on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. Many people are already doing so, and one is left to wonder what it will take to open the ears, minds and hearts of those in a position to effect equitable, knowledge-based and fair-minded legislation on behalf of western Canada’s wild horses.
Claudia Notzke, Ph.D.
University of Lethbridge
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