URGENT CALL TO ACTION – North Dakota Wild Horse Preservation Act

Hello and Happy Thursday! 

We have an URGENT call to action for everyone – this has to be done TODAY (10/19/2023) We have been working hard on this all week and now we need your help to make this happen!

Our North Dakota State Legislators are being called back into a special session next week.  We have drafted legislation that we NEED them to vote on next week when they are back in session. They will be deciding TODAY what goes into the special session!

THIS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE BACK IN SESSION UNTIL 2025!!!

Please send the following email to our North Dakota State Legislators.  We have created an easy link for people IN North Dakota:  https://secure.everyaction.com/m7NqroTJuEakUe8eZrQRJA2

We also have the email addresses for everyone else at the end of this email.

EVERYONE should also email the following ND state contacts as well: jreiten@nd.gov
jabeehler@nd.gov
snweigel@nd.gov
jbjornson@ndlegis.gov

The North Dakota Wild Horse Preservation Act reads as follows (we also have a pdf file you can attach to your emails):

North Dakota Wild Horse Preservation Act

Whereas “The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.” The wild horses have been a cultural resource since 1947 and before and wild horses are a natural resource. 

Whereas the Theodore Roosevelt National Park horses have been a public trust for generations and not been raised on a farm or ranch, have not been raised as a food animal, are not and have never been owned or held in private ownership.  The wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park therefore are not livestock pursuant to 29 CFR 780.328 and NDAC Section 48.1-09-01-01-definitions.  Therefore, they are wild horses and since these horses are not covered under the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act, or any other federal act, they are eligible and should be protected as wild horses by the state of North Dakota as a public trust.   (NMAG 94-06 https://nmonesource.com/nmos/ag/en/item/15067/index.do & AZ 2016 HB2340 AND AZ 2016 HB2340 https://legiscan.com/AZ/text/HB2340/id/1385534)

Whereas Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the #1 tourist destination in North Dakota and the wild horses are a driving force that brings visitors to our state.  The Park recently released their Visitor Use and Associated Thresholds at Theodore Roosevelt National Park Research Report that was performed from 2016-2018.  The report states that 89% of visitors surveyed support the ongoing presence of a wild horse herd in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  Only 4% of visitors surveyed opposed the ongoing presence of wild horses in the Park.

Whereas Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the only national park named for an individual.  The Park’s 2014 Foundation Document states that the Park’s Purpose is “Theodore Roosevelt National Park memorializes Theodore Roosevelt and pays tribute to his enduring contribution to the conservation of our nation’s resources by preserving and protecting the scenery, wildlife, and wilderness qualities of the North Dakota Badlands—the landscape that inspired Roosevelt and still inspires visitors today.” We know from Theodore Roosevelt’s writings that wild horses existed in this area when he was in North Dakota: “In a great many–indeed, in most–localities there are wild horses to be found, which, although invariably of domestic descent, being either themselves runaways from some ranch or Indian outfit, or else claiming such for their sires and dams, yet are quite as wild as the antelope on whose domain they have intruded.”

Whereas in January of 2022 North Dakota State University graduate student Melissa Thompson completed her Graduate Thesis and Dissertation entitled Genetic Breed Association And Contraceptive Response GWAS Of The Feral Horses (Equus Caballus) Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park which in summary found that the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park were a unique breed of horses that were not directly linked to any specific breed. (https://commons.und.edu/theses/4297/)

Whereas on January 30, 2023, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum held a press conference and sent a formal comment letter to Theodore Roosevelt National Park requesting that the Park allow the horses to stay.  Further, Governor Burgum offered that “the State of North Dakota stands ready to collaborate with the National Park Service, whether with resources or management expertise, to ensure that the herd of wild horses can be maintained in a manner and size that supports genetic diversity and protects the park for visitors today and for generations to come.“

Whereas during Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s public comment period that ended January 31, 2023, the Park received 19,012 comments.  Of the comments received only 45 of those comments supported the Park’s plans to eliminate the horses.

Whereas on February 3, 2023, the United Tribes of North Dakota sent a letter to Theodore Roosevelt National Park urging them to continue the preservation of the wild horses within the Park’s boundaries.

Whereas on April 13, 2023, the MHA Nation sent a resolution to Theodore Roosevelt National Park stating that the MHA Nation holds horses in high esteem as horses are significant to the MHA people and have played a major role in MHA history, tradition and culture; and The MHA Nation recognizes the wild horses running free in the park require genetic diversity and responsible herd management policies and techniques to maintain for the health of the herd.  The Tribal Business Council voted unanimously to support the continued free running of the horse herd in Theodore Roosevelt National Park pursuant to a management policy that includes proper genetic diversity and efficient herd management policies and techniques.

Whereas on April 17, 2023 North Dakota Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR 4014 was filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State after the resolution which asked Theodore Roosevelt National Park to allow the wild horses to stay within the Park passed both the North Dakota House and Senate unanimously.

Whereas on July 11, 2023, the City of Medora requested in their own resolution to Theodore Roosevelt National Park that the Park keep the horses.  Their resolution stated that the horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park bring tourism to the state and the City of Historic Medora and elimination of the herd poses economic concerns for the business community and negatively impacts preservation and appreciation of our state and communities’ history. 

Whereas the State of North Dakota wants to maintain this public trust for future generations through ensuring genetic viability.  (https://www.blm.gov/learn/blm-library/agency-publications/resource-notes see 23-30)

This North Dakota Wild Horse Preservation Act is a temporary action to provide protection of the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park by the State of North Dakota.  This temporary action will expire in April of 2025.  The North Dakota State Legislature will review this action during the 2025 session and after The North Dakota Wild Horse Preservation Act has been properly vetted through committee procedures and legislative protocols, the North Dakota State Legislators will decide if continuation of this action is necessary.

Please send this email to our North Dakota State Legislators:

maxtman@ndlegis.gov,
jbarta@ndlegis.gov,
tbeard@ndlegis.gov,
bbekkedahl@ndlegis.gov,
kboehm@ndlegis.gov,
rbraunberger@ndlegis.gov,
raburckhard@ndlegis.gov,
scleary@ndlegis.gov,
dclemens@ndlegis.gov,
cconley@ndlegis.gov,
kdavison@ndlegis.gov,
ddever@ndlegis.gov,
mdwyer@ndlegis.gov,
jayelkin@ndlegis.gov,
rerbele@ndlegis.gov,
jestenson@ndlegis.gov,
khogan@ndlegis.gov,
dhogue@ndlegis.gov,
jkannianen@ndlegis.gov,
gkessel@ndlegis.gov,
jklein@ndlegis.gov,
kkrebsbach@ndlegis.gov,
ckreun@ndlegis.gov,
dlarson@ndlegis.gov,
jlee@ndlegis.gov,
rlemm@ndlegis.gov,
lluick@ndlegis.gov,
jmagrum@ndlegis.gov,
tmathern@ndlegis.gov,
scottmeyer@ndlegis.gov,
jmyrdal@ndlegis.gov,
dpatten@ndlegis.gov,
bpaulson@ndlegis.gov,
mpiepkorn@ndlegis.gov
jroers@ndlegis.gov,
kroers@ndlegis.gov,
drummel@ndlegis.gov,
drust@ndlegis.gov,
dgschaible@ndlegis.gov,
jlsickler@ndlegis.gov,
rsorvaag@ndlegis.gov,
svedaa@ndlegis.gov,
tmwanzek@ndlegis.gov,
markweber@ndlegis.gov,
kweston@ndlegis.gov,
mwobbema@ndlegis.gov

dickanderson@ndlegis.gov,
bertanderson@ndlegis.gov,
kanderson@ndlegis.gov,
lbahl@ndlegis.gov,
lbellew@ndlegis.gov,
mbeltz@ndlegis.gov,
gdbosch@ndlegis.gov,
jboschee@ndlegis.gov,
mbrandenburg@ndlegis.gov,
colechristensen@ndlegis.gov,
jchristy@ndlegis.gov,
lconmy@ndlegis.gov,
clairecory@ndlegis.gov,
hdakane@ndlegis.gov,
jdavis@ndlegis.gov,
gdobervich@ndlegis.gov,
jddockter@ndlegis.gov,
sdyk@ndlegis.gov,
cfegley@ndlegis.gov,
lfinleydeville@ndlegis.gov,
jayfisher@ndlegis.gov,
kfrelich@ndlegis.gov,
jgrueneich@ndlegis.gov,
lbhager@ndlegis.gov,
jhagert@ndlegis.gov,
krhanson@ndlegis.gov,
phatlestad@ndlegis.gov,
dorihauck@ndlegis.gov,
cheadland@ndlegis.gov,
mheilman@ndlegis.gov,
pdheinert@ndlegis.gov,
dhenderson@ndlegis.gov,
dholle@ndlegis.gov,
jahoverson@ndlegis.gov,
zmista@ndlegis.gov,
djohnson@ndlegis.gov,
jjohnson@ndlegis.gov,
jjonas@ndlegis.gov,
kkarls@ndlegis.gov,
jkasper@ndlegis.gov,
kkempenich@ndlegis.gov,
dhkiefert@ndlegis.gov,
lklemin@ndlegis.gov,
bkoppelman@ndlegis.gov,
gkreidt@ndlegis.gov,
mlefor@ndlegis.gov,
dlongmuir@ndlegis.gov,
slouser@ndlegis.gov,
amarschall@ndlegis.gov,
bmartinson@ndlegis.gov,
cmcleod@ndlegis.gov,
lmeier@ndlegis.gov,
amitskog@ndlegis.gov,
crmock@ndlegis.gov,
dmonson@ndlegis.gov,
mmotschenbacher@ndlegis.gov,
emurphy@ndlegis.gov,
mrnathe@ndlegis.gov,
jonelson@ndlegis.gov,
anovak@ndlegis.gov,
eobrien@ndlegis.gov,
jolson@ndlegis.gov,
solson@ndlegis.gov,
mostlie@ndlegis.gov,
tkporter@ndlegis.gov,
bprichard@ndlegis.gov,
bpyle@ndlegis.gov,
dwrichter@ndlegis.gov,
nrios@ndlegis.gov,
sroersjones@ndlegis.gov,
kmrohr@ndlegis.gov,
druby@ndlegis.gov,
mruby@ndlegis.gov,
masanford@ndlegis.gov,
blsatrom@ndlegis.gov,
mischatz@ndlegis.gov,
aschauer@ndlegis.gov,
mschneider@ndlegis.gov,
rschobinger@ndlegis.gov,
cschreiberbeck@ndlegis.gov,
vsteiner@ndlegis.gov,
gstemen@ndlegis.gov,
mstrinden@ndlegis.gov,
sswiontek@ndlegis.gov,
paulthomas@ndlegis.gov,
ktimmons@ndlegis.gov,
nptoman@ndlegis.gov,
btveit@ndlegis.gov,
lvanwinkle@ndlegis.gov,
smvetter@ndlegis.gov,
dwvigesaa@ndlegis.gov,
swagner@ndlegis.gov,
jwarrey@ndlegis.gov,
rweisz@ndlegis.gov

Thank you for helping us to get this in front of our North Dakota State Legislators! We will keep you updated on if this is accepted into this special session as soon as we hear!

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