The perception that animals are “overpopulated” in certain areas generally overlooks the fact that their habitat may have been eaten away by development, or their natural predators may have been removed. Whatever the reason, The HSUS is the leading advocate and innovator in humane wildlife-population control.


The HSUS is a leader in the emerging field of immunocontraception—a humane way to control animal populations where it’s necessary and appropriate. This method safely uses the body's immune response to prevent pregnancy without harming the animal or the population as a whole.

Immunocontraception has been used to control deer and wild horse populations across the United States and elephant populations in South Africa.

Overpopulation doesn’t just take place in the wild. That’s why we’ve made immunocontraception technology available to zoos to help alleviate the suffering that results from the excessive breeding of wildlife in captivity.

News & Events

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Our Victories

  • November 16, 2009

    An Eagle Eye on Wildlife

    Last Friday, Wayne Pacelle paid a visit to our newest animal care center—the SPCA Wildlife Care Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

  • November 13, 2009

    La Jolla Seals Decision

    The HSUS heralds the ruling by Judge Timothy Taylor of the Superior Court of California in San Diego to allow harbor seals to continue living at Casa Beach in La Jolla. In his ruling, Judge Taylor vacated two previous judicial orders that would have required the City of San Diego to disperse the seals and to dredge the beach to ensure the seals did not return.

  • June 18, 2009

    The HSUS Applauds Fla. Turtle Trade Ban

    The Humane Society of the United States commends the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for unanimously passing a rule banning the commercial trapping and sale of freshwater turtles in Florida.

  • Wolves

    July 22, 2008

    Federal Court Reinstates Federal Wolf Protections

    In a victory for the gray wolves of the northern Rockies, a federal judge in Montana reinstated federal Endangered Species Act protections for wolves, preventing Idaho, Montana and Wyoming from implementing fall wolf hunts.

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