One word we keep hearing a lot over these last 7 months…
UNPRECEDENTED
Local advocates getting their state government to work with them…
Unprecedented!
A state governor offering the state’s resources to save a herd of wild horses…
Unprecedented!
State legislators voting UNANIMOUSLY on a resolution to save a herd of horses…
Unprecedented!
Federal delegates working with the state delegates to save a herd of wild horses….
Unprecedented!
The state’s Stockman’s Association working with advocates to save a herd of wild horses…
Unprecedented!
We are working on a few other items that IF they go through, will also be…
Unprecedented!
Why?
Because we truly have it ALL here at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is a hidden gem here in Southwestern North Dakota!
Want to see bison – we have that here!
Want to see elk – we have that here!
Want to see coyotes – we have that here!
Want to see prairie dogs – we have that here!
Want to see golden eagles – we have that here!
Want to see great horned owls – we have that here!
Want to see wild horses – YES! We have all that and more AND wild horses too!
All in a fenced park just under 50,000 acres with the beautiful badlands in the backdrop!
Theodore Roosevelt National Park IS a magical place!
The horses, visitors say time and time again, are a HUGE part of what helps create that magic! There are several state and local parks where you can see elk, bison and other wildlife. At Theodore Roosevelt National Park – if you are patient and look hard enough, you can see an abundance of wildlife – all in ONE place!
I have had several meetings this week both over the phone, through email and in person with several people/groups as we continue our Fight for the Spirit of the Badlands. I am also lucky that local businesses here in Medora send different people my way when serious folks come along asking questions about the horses. That happened this week too. I am still gathering my thoughts and the right words to share with you on some of the conversations we had this week.
This did seem like a good place for a pause to just remember what it is we are fighting for.
There are currently 193 wild horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home. The park has NOT changed their stance ONE BIT! Even in light of over 19,000 people taking the time to comment during their last comment period.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is OUR park. It belongs to US – the taxpaying public! Yesterday I had a phone conversation with the man that was re-directed to our store. He worked at Theodore Roosevelt National Park years ago. I caught him up on what we have done and what we are doing.
He said something that really hit home… ALL of those National Park Service employees – they are OUR HIRED HELP! They are.
“They tend to forget they work for us and not the other way around.”
On December 12, 2022, Theodore Roosevelt National Park shared their proposed action with us: TOTAL elimination of the wild horses that WE have entrusted to their care!
Since then, we have been working hard to not only gain support for these horses but really, remind the park that this is OUR park. These are OUR lands. THIS is the place that President Roosevelt came to heal. If you have ever been here and have been blessed to sit in the presence of the wild horses, you begin to understand the healing properties of not only these badlands, but of the horses and all of the wildlife that we so beautifully have preserved within this fenced park for 76 years!
After 76 years, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is trying to tell US – the taxpaying public – that the one animal that has ALWAYS been here in this area – is not native and has to go. They seem to have forgotten that they truly ARE the hired help. As taxpaying citizens, it is our job to remind them!
There is STILL A LOT of work to do! This week was like a roller coaster ride for sure! A few highs, some really bad lows and even a moment when I wondered (again) if we have any chance of saving these horses. If you listen to the narratives Theodore Roosevelt National Park is giving us, we don’t have a shot in hell.
Then yesterday, one phone call really got me thinking about our hired help. The people who have crossed my path over these last 7 months at very significant moments like yesterday never cease to amaze me.
Thanks, Barry, for reminding me about our hired help and for your support!
THANK YOU also to each one of you for all of your help and support.
This fight is far from over. We will have more to share over the next few days.
Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates is committed to advocating for a wild horse management plan and protection for these unique wild horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home! We are fighting for a management plan that is guided by science especially when it comes to decisions regarding the removal of horses and the administration of birth control. Many other wild horse management plans have proven to be successful with their science-based plans. We are asking for the same for this amazing group of wild horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home.
I FEEL IT IS TIME TO START WRITING THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Our Congress is a mess, our congressmen are a mess, our politics are a mess. We need to bombard the President. The department is headed by the secretary of the interior, who reports directly to the president of the United States and is a member of the president’s Cabinet. The current secretary is Deb Haaland. WE NEED TO LET HIME KNOW ABOUT THE PARK. WE NEED TO LET HIM KNOW THE PEOPLE WANT THE HORSES IN THE PARK. We need to remind the President the people are tax payers and want the horses.
J Heckert
Utah