The current public comment period has now closed. This page can still be used to help educate and reference reasons why the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park should remain IN the Park!
On December 12, 2022, Theodore Roosevelt National Park announced their plans to eliminate the ENTIRE herd of wild horses from the park!
On September 25, 2023, the Park released their Draft Environmental Assessment. That comment period was extended to November 24, 2023.
This page has been created to share helpful information on the Theodore Roosevelt National Park planning process for the NEW wild horse management plan. This page will include talking points for your public comments as well as resources you can use as supporting documentation with your comment letter. We will continue to update this page regularly so be sure to check back often!
Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates and American Wild Horse Campaign joint comment letter and supporting documentation for the November 24, 2023 comment period deadline.
Many people have asked for Talking Points that can be used to comment. We put together this one for you:
You can also download this sheet here:
Blog Posts to help with your comment letter:
Please Sign Our Comment Letter!
Pulling it all Together – Part 1
Pulling it all Together – Part 2
Pulling it all Together – Part 3
Pulling it all Together – Part 4
Substantive Comment letter: Livestock
Substantive Comment letter: Purpose & Need
Substantive Comment letter: Historical & Cultural Significance – Part 1
Substantive Comment letter: Historical & Cultural Significance – Part 2
Be sure to check out our YouTube Channel for helpful information on these amazing wild horses and tips to help you make a factual, impactful and educational comment: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeyTpwa2Y1yUsTaJ4TU-eNw
PDF slide presentation – updated 10/20/2023
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:
CHWHA January 2023 Comment Letter:
1978 Environmental Assessment – currently being used to manage the wild horses of TRNP
Link to The National Academy of Sciences report: Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward (EXCELLENT resource for comment documentation) https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13511/using-science-to-improve-the-blm-wild-horse-and-burro-program
Dr. Castle McLaughlin’s report
BLM Wild Horse & Burro Handbook
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota Historic Resource Study by Public Lands History Center at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Citizen’s Guide to NEPA: Having Your Voice Heard – this is a GREAT resource for understanding the NEPA process.
Wild Horses as Native North American Wildlife by Jay F. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. and Patricia M. Fazio, Ph.D. (Revised January 2010) https://whoanm.org/wordpress/wild-horses-as-native-north-american-wildlife-2/
15 Facts About Our National Mammal: The American Bison
https://www.doi.gov/blog/15-facts-about-our-national-mammal-american-bison
The Brownlee Study – cited by Theodore Roosevelt National Park in their Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that was released on September 25, 2023.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Livestock Plan & EA Overview Document Workshop Notes October 11-13, 2022. aka NPS 2022h – THIS is the document the Park DOES NOT want you to see! Please make sure you download it and read their calculated plans to eliminate the wild horses from the Park.
Genetic Breed Association And Contraceptive Response GWAS Of The Feral Horses (Equus Caballus) Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by Melissa Amy Thompson
