The beloved wild horses that roam freely in North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park may be removed under a National Park Service proposal that has sparked controversy.

The proposal, which is still in the early stages, would call for the removal of up to 900 wild horses from the park. Park officials say the horses are overgrazing the land and damaging the ecosystem.

But advocates for the horses say they are an important part of the park’s history and culture. They also argue that the horses are not overgrazing the land, and that the removal plan would be cruel and unnecessary.

The debate over the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park is just one example of the larger controversy surrounding wild horses in the United States. There are an estimated 86,000 ^* wild horses and burros on public lands in the West, and many people believe that these animals are overpopulated and causing environmental damage.

The National Park Service has a long history of removing wild horses from its parks. In the 1970s, the agency removed thousands of wild horses from Yellowstone National Park. And in the 1990s, it removed hundreds of wild horses from Grand Teton National Park.

The proposal to remove wild horses from Theodore Roosevelt National Park is likely to face legal challenges from animal rights groups. And it is unclear whether the Park Service will be able to find a place to relocate the horses if they are removed from the park.

The fate of the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park is uncertain, but the debate over their future is sure to continue.

• The National Park Service estimates that there are currently about 1,300 wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
• The park’s management plan calls for a herd size of 300-500 horses.
• The Park Service says that the overgrazing by wild horses is damaging the park’s prairie grasses and wildflowers.
• Advocates for the horses say that the Park Service’s management plan is based on outdated science. They argue that the horses are not overgrazing the land, and that they actually help to maintain the health of the ecosystem.
• The debate over the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park is likely to be a long and contentious one.

What do you think should happen to the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park?

UPDATE November 03, 2024

^*According to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).As of March 1, 2024, the estimated population of wild horses and burros in the United States was 73,520. This includes: 58,952 wild horses 14,568 burros. This data is collected and reported by the BLM, which is responsible for managing and protecting wild horses and burros on public lands in the US. You can find more information about the Wild Horse and Burro Program on the BLM website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro

©️ Rocky Mountain Dispatch 2023