Hello and Happy Wednesday to everyone!

Thank you to everyone who sent emails sharing their excitement about SCR 4006 making its FINAL pass through the 2025 North Dakota legislative session!  That’s right – in case you did not hear, SCR 4006, the resolution that puts the state of North Dakota on record requesting federal protection for the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park – passed the North Dakota House yesterday!! We posted a video on our YouTube channel of Representative Tveit’s speech on the ND House floor on Tuesday.  You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/_-v8qZeESxc?si=BuvvExrvnz-4Nx50

Many of you have also commented on our social media posts and sent emails sharing your ongoing concerns about the management practices the park continues to use on this herd.  We want you to know, we hear you and we are working on several different ways to help this herd. 

I want to start by saying that the damage that has been done to this herd did not happen overnight.  That being said, the management problems that have compounded over decades will not be fixed overnight either. 

I also get targeted with slanderous comments a lot that state that I just want to push “MY AGENDA”.  IF I have an “agenda”, it is simply for a healthy and genetically viable herd of wild horses to remain in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  MY AGENDA means that the park actually does its job, as Frank Kuntz and his late brother Leo, and other experts have said for DECADES before we came along.  Doing their job means using the wealth of scientific resources that are readily available to help them manage this herd for more than just numbers.  THAT is all this park has ever done since it was established over 75 years ago – managed the number of horses with no regard for the health of the herd or the genetics that make these horses unique. 

Many of you shared this quote with us from a post on another page that documents the TRNP wild horses:

“Just remember, there is a need to control the numbers in the Park. As for the genetics, also, remember even though the mares are not foaling every year, the stallions continue to contribute to the genetics in the herd.”

We agree, there is a need to control the numbers.  This is a fenced national park.  As for the rest of that statement, we also have no idea how stallions can contribute to the genetics of the herd, if most of the mares are NOT reproducing.  It takes BOTH mares and stallions to keep the herd viable.  Right now, as you can see by our GonaCon page on our website, the reproductive capability of this herd is seriously in question.  You can see the stories on each of the mares we have covered, along with links to scientific articles, YouTube videos and even papers released by Theodore Roosevelt National Park on our website: https://chwha.org/gonacon/

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates WILL NOT make excuses for the poor management decisions made by Theodore Roosevelt National Park and we will not simply agree with park management to appease them.  We will say again that we love this park.  We believe it is one of the best national parks that we have.  We simply disagree with the “management” of the wild horses. 

So what do we want?  What are we working on? 

There is A LOT happening that we can’t talk about, BUT I CAN answer some general concerns.

Our primary focus is getting federal protection for this herd.  We have said before, and will continue to say, this can take YEARS!  While our biggest focus is federal law to protect these horses, there are also a number of other ways these horses can be protected in the short term, while we wait for federal legislation.  We are literally working on protection for this herd in every way that we can. 

We have hired Holly Bice from Bice Policy Group to help with legislation.  Holly is already working on our first draft of federal legislation.  For reference, Holly also drafted SCR 4006 and I believe there were very little to no revisions from what we submitted to the version that passed.  This was a huge help to our busy legislators. Holly also drafted SB 2331 and submitted written testimony as well as testified virtually.  Holly is a vital part of our next steps for federal legislation.  She is based in Washington DC and has already had several conversations with members of Congress about the TRNP wild horses. 

GonaCon.  Yes!  We are working on putting a stop to the use of GonaCon on this herd.  That does not mean that we do not want the park to use birth control at all.  As we stated above, this is a fenced national park, they have to have a way to control the population.  Using a drug like GonaCon EVERY YEAR, that is NOT supposed to be used as often, is a poor management practice that has gone on for way too long.  By the park’s own admission, they have no idea what damage has been done and if it is reversible. 

In 2016 when we moved to North Dakota, I believe that there were 40+ foals born that year.  While that is way too many foals to be born yearly, there were 10 live births last year and only 8 of them remain.  That is quite the difference in foaling rates.  How many foals should be born every year?   I don’t have that answer either.  When we don’t have those answers, we turn to some of the amazing experts that we have met over the last few years.  We DO NOT take the word of the park over scientific facts by experts.  As sad as it is to say, the park has a long way to go to earn our trust. 

Aside from the resource standpoint, the population should also be managed properly so that the park does not have to capture and auction off 20-40 young horses between the age of 4 months old and 3 years old year after year. Again, we are not opposed to the park culling the herd as needed, but other herd management areas – INCLUDING Assateague Island, another national park – have shown that there are ways to manage the population without having to remove horses.  Assateague DOES NOT want their horses “at large” – mainly so they do not hear stories like we have about Legacy Mustang Sanctuary – where it is believed that over 30 TRNP wild horses have probably ended up going to slaughter. 

IF the park wants to be in the business of selling horses, then there need to be protections in place for the horses.  There needs to be a way to vet buyers and also some kind of follow up to make sure the horses are being properly cared for. 

The Collars!  Yes!  We are continuing to work to have the collars removed.  Again, this will take time.  If you are interested, the park is trying to appeal to the public by showing data on where the horses go.  You can check their website to see that herds generally stay in the areas they are comfortable in: https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/nature/feral-horses.htm  Information that the many visitors that frequent the park can tell them, as has been well documented for years by park visitors.  Don’t forget – the park already knows the land use of the horses.  They shared it in a paper released in March of 2024:

Beyond the collars, CHWHA believes that the experimentation on this herd for any reason needs to stop. 

We are in regular communication with Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  We sent an email with follow up questions from the roundup and reports the park released back in January.  We have been told by Superintendent Daniels that our response now sits on her desk.  We will share that information with you as soon as the park responds. 

We remain in regular communication with Senator Hoeven’s office, Congresswoman Fedorchak’s office, Governor Armstrong’s office as well as with our North Dakota state legislators.  There are many things that can be done to help this herd outside of federal legislation – LIKE SCR 4006 – that can be done NOW to help this herd. 

I know it gets frustrating when we see an easy solution to management issues with this herd when it seems like nothing is changing. Again, we didn’t get here overnight so the changes will not happen overnight either.

How can you help?

There are a few Calls to Action we still have open for this herd.  It may seem like these don’t help, but believe me – THEY DO!

Make sure we have your name on our petition demanding that the collars be removed: https://secure.everyaction.com/x-5WrjPo20Cb4LGbj5PD-A2  If we have your name, ask a friend, family member and/or co-worker to also sign!

Send an email to NPS Management and our North Dakota elected officials demanding that the collars be removed from these horses.  You can send this email as many times as you like!  Please ask others to send the email too!  https://secure.everyaction.com/mFnS9JcvoEypRJBKdpxK_w2

Send an email asking that Theodore Roosevelt National Park stop using GonaCon on this herd.  This email will go to NPS park management as well as our North Dakota elected officials.  You can send this email as often as you like.  Please ask others to send this email too! https://secure.everyaction.com/7exTfk62vU6c0On_NDNIfA2

Please take a moment to send an email to our North Dakota legislators that sponsored and co-sponsored SCR 4006 thanking them for their support.  This is a HUGE help to our advocacy efforts!  You can send your email here: https://secure.everyaction.com/_GyHdYAdcEmTgzvqQ-NEZQ2

We also have an email open to welcome Secretary Burgum to his new position.  While many of us may not agree with the land decisions being made by the current administration, we have not heard much about the wild horses.  Our North Dakota state legislators believe that Burgum will come through for the wild horses of TRNP.  This email also asks for his help with wild horses on the western range.  Based on our past relationship with his office as governor, we will continue to give him the benefit of the doubt with respect to our wild horses and burros until he gives us a reason to believe otherwise.  It doesn’t hurt for him to hear that wild horses are important to MANY of us all over the country: https://secure.everyaction.com/GuOzbPXiQ0iBQRW4lI7Nww2

We also have three other open Calls to Action for wild horses on the western range:

Email your members of Congress and ask them to pass the SAFE Act: https://secure.everyaction.com/2SOfZuMR7E23itGpvfa0sA2  again – emails can be sent as often as you like!  When you congressman responds – even if it is a form response, take advantage of that opportunity to start a dialog with their office!

Speak up for Utah’s wild horses!  A land exchange between the federal government and the state of Utah leaves a big question mark for the wild horses!  https://secure.everyaction.com/BU1SxBcD0E2PdnBu4G9xuw2

Send an email to your members of Congress asking them to look into the US Forest Service’s plans to eradicate the Devil’s Garden wild horses: https://secure.everyaction.com/TUGd9WmX4EqyNwsH08Wnww2

Lastly, we need your financial support to continue our critical advocacy work.  As a 501 (c )3 organization, any donation you make is tax deductible.  Every $1 matters and every $1 counts!  You can make your donation to CHWHA here: https://secure.everyaction.com/wnK6YjHlTkCC2Aq57_7srQ2

We will continue to share updates as we have them on the work we are doing to protect this historic herd of wild horses. 

Thank you for your support and have a great night!

---