Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/theodore-roosevelt-national-park/

Beautiful countryside doesn’t even begin to describe the northwestern segment of the United States. Home to the Dakotas, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, the land is diverse in both appearance and utility. It is also a place where Americans can enjoy the many federal and state parks that are clustered there. That includes the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in honor of our 26th president and the visionary who gave the country its epic parks. If it hadn’t been for him, there may not be a Yellowstone or Yosemite for us to enjoy today.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The park that is his namesake happens to be in North Dakota. It also happens to be facing a dilemma that Teddy would very likely have weighed in on himself. It’s about the horses and cattle that call the park home. Both are non-native to the landscape and both must be dealt with, but how? The horses are feral and estimates put them at 200-strong. Wild horses, in case you didn’t know, can do a real number on the landscape and damage habitats and ecosystems that aren’t always as resilient as you’d think. The number of cattle is only nine total, so there’s not as much to think about where they’re concerned.

Managing Animal Populations on Parklands

The general consensus is that something must be done, but as you can imagine, there are a lot of varied and rather outspoken opinions on the subject. With that in mind, officials are gathering public sentiment on what to do. Like so many other government institutions, the park hasn’t updated its horse management plan since 1978, and its plan for cattle management dates back even further. No matter what they decide, there will be a certain level of backlash, to be sure, so they’re seeking opinions on three options they’re considering.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

The first plan is to basically do nothing and continue to follow the plans already in place. The second is to remove the feral horses and cattle as quickly as possible without saying yet where they’d go. The third, and what would seem the most reasonable, is to remove the cattle, period, and significantly reduce the horse herd to a number that is manageable and sterilized. After which, they could live out the remainder of their lives on parkland.

If you feel strongly about the direction the park should take, a virtual public scoping meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2023. Attendees can join via computer or telephone to learn more about the Livestock Plan. In the meantime, public comment on the alternatives is being taken through January. You can find details on the plan and leave your comments with the National Park Service.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog