Park Service Plans Wild Horse Purge

The National Park Service is seeking to remove the entire herd of wild horses from Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). According to a preliminary plan released in December, the NPS is proposing the “active capture of horses with the methods best suited to reducing the population to zero.” An estimated 186 wild horses reside within the 70,000-acre park. These equines—the only wild herd in North Dakota—are a significant tourist draw and have inhabited the park’s badlands since long before TRNP was established.

When the NPS solicited public input on its proposed removal, AWI rallied supporters to submit comments opposing this troubling plan. In addition, the North Dakota legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 4014, introduced by Senator Brad Bekkedhal (R-1), urging the NPS to allow for the continued presence of wild horses in TRNP, given their historical significance to the park.

Program Terms: Equines, Terrestrial Wildlife

AWI Quarterly Terms: Government/Legal, Quick Read