S. 1377: Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act

This bill requires the federal government to permanently protect and maintain a herd of at least 150 wild horses in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. It restricts the government from removing these horses except under limited circumstances, such as health emergencies or to manage the genetic diversity of the herd.

Summary

The Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act (S. 1377) amends the Act of April 25, 1947, to mandate the active preservation of a horse herd within Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Amid historical debates over whether the National Park Service should phase out or eliminate these horses, this legislation legally secures their permanent presence. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a comprehensive management plan that maintains a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses while ensuring the park's natural resources and ecosystems are protected.

Key Provisions

• Mandatory Herd Maintenance: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to maintain a genetically diverse herd of horses in the South Unit of the park, setting a strict population floor of no fewer than 150 horses.
• Management Plan Deadline: Instructs the Secretary to develop a formal horse management plan within 120 days of the bill's enactment. This plan must be cost-effective and prevent adverse impacts on the park's natural resources.
• Strict Removal Limits: Prohibits the removal of any horses from federal land within the park unless the removal is part of a plan to preserve genetic diversity, is required due to an emergency, or is necessary to protect public health and safety.
• Public Transparency: Mandates annual monitoring and assessment of the herd's population, structure, and health, requiring these findings to be made publicly available.

Impact Analysis

• Impact on Existing Policy: Historically, the National Park Service (NPS) has treated these horses as "livestock" rather than protected wild horses under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This bill overrides previous NPS proposals to reduce or entirely eliminate the herd, establishing a clear statutory mandate that the horses must remain a permanent fixture of the park.
• Ecological and Management Balance: The bill requires the Department of the Interior to strike a delicate balance. It must maintain a healthy, genetically viable horse population (at least 150 animals) while simultaneously ensuring the herd does not overgraze or degrade the park's native vegetation, water sources, and wildlife habitats.
• Cultural and Economic Significance: The wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park are a major tourist attraction and hold deep historical and cultural value for North Dakota, symbolizing the open-range landscape that shaped Theodore Roosevelt's conservation legacy. Legally securing the herd's future protects local tourism-driven economies.
• Public Information: Animal advocacy groups, researchers, and the general public will have regular, guaranteed access to official data regarding the herd's health and demographics through the mandated annual reporting process.