S 1377: Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act

S 1377 in plain English: This bill requires the Department of the Interior to maintain a herd of at least 150 genetically diverse wild horses in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Interior must create a management plan to protect the horses without harming park resources, and may only remove horses under specific limited circumstances. The department must also annually monitor and publicly report on the herd's population, structure, and health.

Stated purpose

The bill directs the Department of the Interior to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 wild horses in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and to develop a management plan that protects the horses while avoiding harm to the park's natural resources.

Key points

• Requires a minimum herd of 150 genetically diverse wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park's South Unit.
• Prohibits removing horses from the park except for genetic diversity, emergencies, or public health and safety.
• Mandates the creation of a management plan balancing horse protection with preserving natural park resources.
• Requires annual monitoring and public reporting on the herd's population, structure, and health.

Arguments supporters make

• The wild horses have been part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park for decades and are a beloved part of its history and identity, reflecting the landscape that Theodore Roosevelt himself experienced.
• Setting a minimum population and restricting removals gives the herd long-term stability and prevents the Park Service from quietly eliminating the horses through management decisions.
• Annual public reporting and a required management plan create accountability and transparency, helping ensure both the horses and the park's ecosystem are properly cared for.

Arguments opponents make

• National parks are meant to preserve native ecosystems, and horses are not native to this landscape; protecting a non-native species by law may come at the expense of native plants and animals.
• Locking in a minimum herd size of 150 by federal statute removes scientific and managerial flexibility, potentially forcing the Park Service to maintain more horses than the land can sustainably support.
• The cost of managing, monitoring, and maintaining a minimum herd size is borne by taxpayers and diverts limited National Park Service resources away from other conservation priorities.

Tradeoffs

Legally guaranteeing a minimum horse population preserves a culturally significant herd but limits the Park Service's ability to manage land based on ecological science alone; protecting the horses may require accepting some degree of impact on native species and vegetation.

Current status in Congress: Passed Senate.

NewsClear — neutral news & congressional tracking · Bill of the Week