NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS HORSE

the issue

"The National Park Service (NPS) is developing a Livestock Plan to address livestock, horse and cattle herds, within Theodore Roosevelt National Park, under relevant laws, regulations, policies, and park management priorities including the conservation of native species and natural prairie ecosystem functions."  --TRNP Press Release

Two of the current 'alternative' plans are removal of the horses completely (either quickly or slowly); the third option is a reduction in the herd numbers from the current 185 head down to 35-60 head.

what can you do?

CONTACT FOLKS
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ND SCR 4014

The North Dakota Senate has introduced a resolution, SCR 4014, encouraging TRNP to keep the horses & longhorns.  The first hearing on this resolution is February 9, 2023. 

View the resolution, track its progress, watch video, follow hearings, and see submitted comments here:  https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/bill-overview/bo4014.html?bill_year=2023&bill_number=4014​

You can submit written comments here:  https://ndlegis.gov/legend/committee/testimony/public-testimony/2325/?hearing=5368

You can view the hearing live here:  https://video.ndlegis.gov/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230205/-1/28884​video.ndlegis.gov/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230205/-1/28884

TOPICS & RESEARCH you can include in your comments

The TRNP horses exhibit five important values to Americans and the world.

HISTORICAL VALUE

  1. Natural vs. livestock - New research is showing that the horses now on this continent have the same DNA as those who originally lived in North America.
  2. Records from TRNP, itself, claim that the horses lived in the area of the park before it was created in 1947:  TRNP Horse Background and History
  3. Castle McLaughlin interviews with area ranchers – The History and Status of Wild Horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
  4. Horses were of critical importance to Native Americans, explorers, pioneers, settlers, farmers, ranchers, and the US Army:  TRNP Horse Background and History
  5. The US was settled from east to west with the use of horses. Wars were fought both on this continent and on others using horses. Remounts were raised in what is now the park.
  6. Tri-state Livestock News:  North Dakota: Badlands park to remove 10 horses
  7. National Park, Badlands Horse Registry Strike Agreement
  8. 15 Facts About Our National Mammal:  the American Bison  The Bison crossed the land bridge AS DID THE HORSES!

  9. ​News From the Permafrost: the “Native” Horse
  10. Foundation Document:  Theodore Roosevelt National Park
  11. Letter to the Editor:  Rod Miller is Wrong--Horses are not an invasive species 


CULTURAL VALUE

  1. Horses have been valuable to humans throughout history: Horses as a Crucial Part of One Health
  2. Horses now in the park represent those once owned by the above-mentioned people groups. The indigenous people of this continent, who saw them as relatives, highly esteemed the horse as it was invaluable for hunting, traveling, and battle:  Native American Animals:  Horse is a Relative to the People
  3. Ranchers like Theodore Roosevelt and the Marquis used horses daily in their cattle operations. They are pictured on horses.  
    --"I heartily enjoy this life, with its perfect freedom, for I am very fond of hunting, and there are few sensations I prefer to that of galloping over these rolling limitless prairies, with rifle in hand, or winding my way among the barren, fantastic and grimly picturesque deserts of the so-called Bad Lands…" - Theodore Roosevelt
    --"I do not believe there ever was any life more attractive to a vigorous young fellow than life on a cattle ranch in those days. It was a fine, healthy life, too; it taught a man self-reliance, hardihood, and the value of instant decision...I enjoyed the life to the full." -Theodore Roosevelt 
    --"Of course there are no pets like horses; and horsemanship is a test of prowess." -- Theodore Roosevelt.
    -- “It was a land of scattered ranches, of herds of long-horned cattle, and of reckless riders who unmoved looked in the eyes of life or death. In that land we led a free and hardy life, with horse and with rifle.”
  4. The Conservation Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt

ECONOMIC VALUE

  1. The horses bring hundreds of people to the area each year. These people stay at local hotels and campgrounds, eat at local restaurants, buy gas at local stations, buy merchandise at local stores, and tell their friends about what a wonderful time they had looking for and photographing the horses bringing thousands more people and millions of dollars to ND.
  2. These people visit the park multiple times adding to entry fees supporting the NPS. TRNP is ranked 90th in visitation:  National Park Service Visitation Statistics. 
  3. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is claimed by Smithsonian to be one of the best places to view wild horses:  The Best Places to See Wild Horses in North America. 
  4. Economics of Loss of Horses to Park

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EMOTIONAL & MENTAL HEALTH VALUE

  1. Just being around horses has been shown to benefit human mental and emotional states.
    ·   The PATH Intl. mission statement: "The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) promotes safety and optimal outcomes in equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs."
    ·    EAGALA statement – “Horses are the perfect partner. Because horses are highly sensitive, clients can work through their life struggles by interacting with the horses without feeling judgment or interpretation by another person.”
  2. Horses born wild have a unique ability to sense emotional trauma in humans:  How Wild Born Horses are Healing Human Hearts. 
  3. Wild Lands Wild Horses save TRNP horses website


RESEARCH VALUE

  1. The horses of TRNP have been an important contained herd for valuable research in the past:  
    --Mitochondrial research:  Genetic Diversity & Origin of the feral horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  
    --CSU contraception research:      Reimmunization increases contraceptive effectiveness of gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine (GonaCon-Equine) in free-ranging horses (Equus caballus): Limitations and side effects
  2. Novel study shows promise for managing wild horse populations

PREVIOUS PUBLIC SCOPING DOCUMENTS

Public scoping comments from July 2022:  Civic Engagement Comment Analysis Report
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National Park Service Contacts

Charles F. "Chuck" Sams III, NPS Director
Shawn Benge, Deputy Director, Operations
Lena McDowall, Deputy Director, Management and Administration
Mike Reynolds, Deputy Director, Congressional and External Relations

ADDRESS:
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
202-208-6843

Region 5 Director
​Bert Frost, Regional Director
National Park Service
601 Riverfront Drive
Omaha, NE 68102-4226
402-661-1736

CONGRESSIONAL/Political CONTACTS


Write/Call  local officials and politicians and tell them Teddy Roosevelt would be appalled at removing this herd.  Tell them “Please keep the TRNP herd in the Park”!
 
NORTH DAKOTA
U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong
1004 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Bismarck phone: 701-354- 6700  
Washington phone: 202-225-2611
 
U.S. Sen. John Hoeven
338 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Bismarck phone: 701-250-4618
Washington phone: 202-224-2551
 
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer
330 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Bismarck phone: 701-699-7020
Washington phone: 202-224-2043

Governor Doug Burgum
600 East Boulevard Ave
Bismarck, ND 58505-0001
701-328-2200

​Other NORTH DAKOTA State Legislators Contact Lists
 

Members of the United States Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee

MONTANA
Sen. Steve Daines
 
VERMONT
Sen. Bernie Sanders
 
NEW MEXICO
Sen. Martin Heinrich
 
HAWAII
Sen. Maxie Herono
 
ARIZONA
Sen. Mark Kelly
 
UTAH
Sen. Mike Lee
 
ALASKA
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
 
OKLAHOMA
Sen. James Langford
 
VIRGINIA
Sen. Joe Manchin III
 
WYOMING
Sen. John Barasso

Members of the United States Senate Energy & Natural Resources National Park Subcommittee

Phone: (202) 224-4971
Fax: (202) 224-6163
Jurisdiction of the Subcommittee includes oversight and legislative responsibilities for: National Park System; Wild and Scenic Rivers System; National Trails System; national recreation areas; historic sites; military parks and battlefields; Land and Water Conservation Fund; historic preservation; and preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of interest on the public domain.

ALASKA
Sen. Lisa Murkowski

ARIZONA
Sen. Mark Kelly

HAWAII
Sen Mazie K. Hirono

MAINE
Sen. Angus S. King, Jr

MONTANA
Sen Steve Daines, Ranking Member

NEW MEXICO
Sen. Martin Heinrich

NORTH DAKOTA
Sen. John Hoeven

OKLAHOMA
Sen. James Lankford

UTAH
Sen. Mike Lee

VERMONT
Sen. Bernard Sanders

WEST VIRGINIA
Sen. Joe Manchin III (Ex Officio)

WYOMING
​Sen John Barrasso (Ex Officio

Members of the United States House Committee on Natural Resources National Parks, Forests, And Public Lands Subcommittee

CALIFORNIA
Tom McClintock
Jay Obernolte

COLORADO
Doug Lamborn

GEORGIA
Jody Hice

MONTANA
Matt Rosendale

NEW MEXICO
Yvette Herrell

TEXAS
Louie Gohmert
​
UTAH
Blake Moore

WISCONSIN
Tom Tiffany, Vice Ranking Member