One of the things we have been working on is communicating with the park with the hopes of having them compromise with the public regarding the current management practices in the park. Specifically: Those F***ing collars we all hate so much! We KNOW from the March 2024 report that these collars are unnecessary because the park already released a report that talks about the land use of the horses in TRNP. We believe that since the park is SUPPOSED to be working to be more transparent with the public, and stakeholders, like all of us, that removing the collars was an easy way to show that the park REALLY cares about what we, the taxpaying public, have to say.
Well….
SURPRISE!
WE WERE WRONG!!!
We have been making this request since the collars were put on in October. We discussed this with Deputy Director Lands in Washington, DC and TODAY we FINALLY received an “official” NPS response.
In short – the National Park Service will continue to experiment on our TRNP wild horses! 11 years of experimentation with GonaCon apparently was NOT enough – now they will continue to treat our horses like guinea pigs with these collars:
“The collars will remain on the horses for the life of the battery, which is expected to be 2-3 years, but could be longer.”
You can read Superintendent Daniels’ full response below. Our petition to have these collars removed is still open if you have not already signed. You can sign the petition here: https://secure.everyaction.com/x-5WrjPo20Cb4LGbj5PD-A2
We also think that the National Park Service needs to hear from ALL OF YOU!
Please take a moment to send this one-click email to: Superintendent Daniels, Blake McCann, Regional Director Bert Frost, Deputy Director Frank Lands, and our North Dakota Federal Legislators: https://secure.everyaction.com/mFnS9JcvoEypRJBKdpxK_w2
You can send this email as often as you like! Feel free to personalize your email with your own respectful message!
Thank you for your continued support. The Fight for the Spirit of the Badlands continues on many fronts! We will update you if we hear anything more on this or the other questions we asked the park in our email to them 30 days ago.
Have a great weekend.
Chris,
I am writing in response to our conversation in my office on December 5, 2024, regarding the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) collars on 15 of the horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I heard you express concerns about the potential irritation or injury to the horses and the issue that it impacts your ability and potentially that of others to photograph the animals. I indicated to you that I would discuss the issue with National Park Service (NPS) leadership informed by subject matter experts. These discussions included input from Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost and NPS Deputy Director of Operations Frank Lands.
The NPS is committed to sustaining a genetically viable herd, and as such, the data we are gathering from the GPS collars will help better inform our future management actions to achieve this objective. The GPS mapping of horse landscape use is part of a series of studies the NPS would need to make science informed decisions on horse management for the park. The NPS has communicated that to the public in several other venues.
We have partnered with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to utilize the latest technology to gather this important location data over time. The collars not negatively impacting the health nor behaviors of the horses or otherwise causing them any distress. We had a biotechnician out in the field to check on each of the 15 collared horses to ensure that the collars were not causing harm. If we become aware of a horse in distress due to a collar, we will take measures to mitigate the situation. It should be noted that the collars will shift some and while at times they may look different in their placement, those shifts are common and have not caused harm to the animals nor impacted their ability to convey data. Collars of this design have been used for many years with horses and are proven technology.
The collars will remain on the horses for the life of the battery, which is expected to be 2-3 years, but could be longer. The location data we are seeking will be collected as long as the collars functioning. The data will help us better understand how the horses are utilizing the landscape and when. We will be able to observe grazing trends and interpret their use of the landscape in relation to other large mammals in the park including bison and elk populations. All of this information will assist the NPS in making better management decisions for long-term sustainability of the herds. You can see a sampling of the data collected so far here: Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Theodore Roosevelt National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
While we understand your concern with the appearance of the collared horses, the benefits to horse management associated with this study are key. Data will be used to refine objectives in horse management to ensure a healthy horse population within the park landscape. Your concerns associated with harm to the animals are not substantiated but we acknowledge that you do not agree. We are committed to remaining vigilant to ensure these 15 horses are monitored for any potential impacts. We gladly accept input of observations you have on their status and would appreciate it if you would bring them to our attention directly. A collaborative partnership approach that is respectful of different perspectives will lead to better horse management in the future.
Thank you,
Rachel
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Rachel A. Daniels Acting Superintendent Theodore Roosevelt National Park 315 2nd Avenue Medora, North Dakota 58645 701-623-4466
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