Wild Animals

Wild Horse Fertility Control Programs

Humane population management using fertility control offers a welfare-friendly alternative to roundups for free-roaming horses.

Key Facts

Porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccine is effective for wild horse fertility control
Vaccinated mares maintain normal social behavior and herd roles
Roundups cause acute stress, injury, and family group disruption
Long-term fertility control requires sustained field programs with trained volunteers

Welfare Considerations

Wild horse roundups are traumatic for individual horses, causing injury, family separation, and the transition from freedom to captivity. Fertility control maintains humane population management while preserving social structures and individual wellbeing in free-roaming conditions.

What You Can Do

Support organizations implementing fertility control programs for wild horses
Advocate for expanded fertility control funding in federal land management
Oppose roundup programs where humane alternatives are available
Donate to field teams monitoring and vaccinating free-roaming herds