Dr. Claudia Notzke, a Geographer and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Management of the University of Lethbridge, has observed wild/feral horse populations around the world. She is a self described equestrienne and outdoors person, intimately familiar with horse behaviour and ecological and social issues pertaining to wild horses, based on decades of experience. In 2004 she spent several weeks in Mongolia, working on a Przewalski Horse re-introduction project in Hustai National Park. Recent observations include the Hutewald Projekt in Germany, which is one example of various undertakings in several European countries as well as Siberia, where re-introduced wild horses are considered ecosystem engineers that enhance and re-create biodiversity in flora and fauna. Furthermore, managers of these projects acknowledge horses as a species belonging to that particular environment in spite of their long absence from it.
North American Wild Horses are the focus of Dr. Notzke’s newest study. The areas of interest in Canada include Alberta’s Eastern Slopes, BC’s Brittany Triangle and Saskatchewan’s Bronson Forest, near Lloydminister. The American aspect of her study will include Wyoming and North and South Dakota. Particularly in Canada, she has found it challenging to locate any scientific data regarding wild/feral horses. Her analysis will include legislation and/or management strategies pertaining to the wild/feral horses or lack thereof, in the two countries. As an outcome of her international studies of how wild horse populations are viewed and handled, recommendations will be made, as to how these animals can be managed as environmental, social and economic assets. Dr. Notzke will address the contentious environmental issues regarding allegations of damage caused by free-roaming horses. Along with reviewing these claims, she will also examine the fall-out of the removal of the Suffield wild/feral horses. In view of the void of scientific data concerning the impact of free-roaming horses in Canada, Dr. Notzke hopes to awaken an interest among colleagues in the Life Sciences and to solicit their cooperation in initiating and supervising Graduate research in the under-explored field.
Dr. Notzke plans on interviewing experts in relevant disciplines regarding range-ecology, eco-forestry and paleo-ecology. The interviews will include other stakeholders as well, such as government officials, Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS) and area ranchers affected by the free-roaming horses. Dr. Notzke spent several days observing the horses in the Eastern Slopes with the Henderson’s, Bob and Doreen (WHOAS) July 15 & 16, 2006, and in the Bronson Forest North of Lloydminister, with Ken McLeod and Ray Sproull, July 24th & 25, 2006. She plans on future trips in both those areas again, along with an excursion to see BC’s Brittany Triangle horses. In relation to these particular horses, to interview representatives of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation, the Friends of the Nemaiah Valley, Biologist Wayne McCroy and BC Government officials.
Dr. Notzke’s most recent books include “Aboriginal Peoples and Natural Resources in Canada”, 1994 and “The Stranger, the Native and the Land”: Perspectives on Indigenous Tourism”. 2006.