Residents of the Pemberton Valley have been out enjoying the comparatively warm weather of late—and that includes the non-human residents. A series of Facebook posts over the last few weeks have indicated an uptick in sightings of horses roaming on the highway between the Village and Mount Currie.
A post from the end of February alerted drivers that the horses were moving between the Industrial Park and SanehThai Restaurant. Over the weekend, they were seen near the entrance to North Arm Farm.
The semi-wild horses remain a jurisdictional nightmare for residents and their owner, Wayne Andrew. The Village of Pemberton is currently working with the Ministry of Agriculture on a letter to MOTI advocating lowering the speed limit on the highway from 80 to 60 km/h to prevent collisions between vehicles and horses.
In the meantime, Pique reached out to the SPCA for tips on what drivers and residents can do to keep themselves and the horses safe. Here's what they told us:
- Be cautious: Recognize that many species of animals may be on the road at any time of day;
- Obey warning signs: Follow signs posted in high-risk areas;
- Slow down: Reduce your speed when you see an animal;
- Scan the ditches: Look for movement or the reflection of animal eyes in your headlights;
- Don't swerve: Brake firmly and stay in your lane;
- Use high beams: Use high beams when it's safe to do so;
- Stay alert.
The SPCA said that, while they’re aware of the situation with the horses, their capacity to respond is limited because their work under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is entirely donor-funded. The organization has previously supported the Village of Pemberton's successful request to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) for new signage alerting divers to the potential for livestock on the road.
The SPCA also encouraged residents to reach out to their MLA, Jeremy Valeriote, about their concerns. He can be reached at [email protected].
