Horses

Updates About Fall 2024 Horse Roundup Operations

Update for October 12, 2024

While the operational area of this week’s horse roundup remains closed to the public to ensure animal and public health and safety, a nearby viewing area has been designated to allow public observation of the gather from a safe distance.

Helicopter operations are currently set to begin October 13 and will continue no later than October 18. (The roundup operations may end sooner. Schedule changes will be posted on this page.)

• Due to limited staff resources and the need to maintain safety and security of the site, two observation windows will be available each day from 9:30 am – 11:30 am and 1 pm – 2:30 pm.

• Interested individuals should park at the South Unit Wildlife Handling Facility. Maps to the facility will be available each morning beginning at 9 am at the South Unit Visitor Center located at 201 East River Road N., Medora, ND 58645.

• Staff on site will direct visitors where to park and how to access the designated viewing area, which will be clearly marked. To protect the health and safety of both the horses and the public, visitors will not be allowed outside of the designated area.

• No more than 15 people can be accommodated at any time.

• Visitors are not required to stay for the entire observation window. Individuals who leave the designated area will not be allowed back in during the same observation window to minimize disruption to the work zone during active operations.

• The road leading to the facility will be closed intermittently throughout each day’s roundup when the helicopter is in flight.

• Public restrooms are not available at the viewing area.

A copy of the superintendent’s record of determination granting limited temporary public access to the designated viewing area is available online and at the South Unit Visitor Center.

Update for October 11, 2024
Theodore Roosevelt National Park appreciates the engagement and interest we have received in both the bison and horse roundups. Some changes will be implemented to the horse roundup to address this feedback. We want to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring a viable and healthy horse population that is manageable based on the park’s natural resource and ecosystem needs.  

The park has completed bison roundup operations in the North Unit, with 196 bison transferred to their new homes, largely with Tribes. Bison were also evaluated for general health, genetics, and population demographics (age, sex ratio, etc.). This data provides important information to the manage the bison population. As a result of this operation, the bison herd size has been reduced by nearly half.

The park is currently shifting operations to the South Unit to prepare for the horse roundup early next week. NPS has decades of experience with these roundups and as such, staff safety and the health and wellbeing of the horses is our top priority. We also seek to minimize disruption to the park ecosystem from these operations. To ensure both animal and public health and safety, the roundup operation is not open to the public.

The upcoming horse roundup will provide a significant amount of data that will inform a long- term management strategy to create a genetically viable, and healthy population at the park. At this time, we have determined that no horses will be transferred out of the park in this year’s roundup effort, due to concerns about the ability of horses to be adopted in a limited amount of time.

Animal health is a priority for the horse roundup. Timing was selected because horses are in optimal health after a long grazing season and cooler temperatures prevent heat related stress during the movement of animals.

A helicopter will be used for roundup operations, which are set to last through October 18. The NPS has extensive experience using helicopters and aviation to support safe and effective animal captures incorporating park staff as observers on the ground and moving animals slowly. We also incorporate low stress livestock handling techniques after animals are brought in. Animals with known mobility constraints will not be rounded up. The park works with livestock veterinarians and subject matter experts to conduct these operations safety and humanely.

The roughly 200 horses will be brought into the South Unit corrals and evaluated for general health, genetics, and population demographics (age, sex ratio, etc.). A subset of horses will be fitted with GPS collars so the NPS can better understand their range and use of the park environment. The park intends to work with volunteers that have experience with the park’s management program and the handling of horses.

A small number of mares that did not successfully respond to previous contraception will be retreated with GonaCon, an immunocontraceptive. The park wants to ensure that these few mares are not skewing the population’s genetics by their breakthrough reproduction. Additional mares may receive a scheduled booster.

Another subset of horses previously identified as having above average genetic diversity will be released from GonaCon treatment, anticipating that they will contribute this diversity to the population through reproduction.

The horse herd population in the future will likely be less than it is today to ensure a healthy herd that is manageable in context of the park’s ecosystem and natural resources. The data gleaned from the roundup will be used to develop target options for the herd’s size using a Population Viability Analysis approach. There is no set number at this time. Once available, we will communicate our results and the recommended management approach for maintaining a viable and healthy population.

We are committed to sharing timely social media updates for those interested in the roundup progress. Updates will be posted on the park’s social media accounts and website throughout the process and when data collection for the roundup is complete. Like our community and visitors, we are committed to ensuring a viable and healthy horse population at the park that is manageable based on the park’s natural resource and ecosystem needs.

Update for October 9, 2024
As of this morning, Theodore Roosevelt National Park (park) has successfully brought in 179 bison and begun the return of many to the north unit of the park. Thus far, the park provided 113 bison to partners, see the history of bison transfers at the park here: https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/nature/bison-transfer-map.htm. Bison were be evaluated for general health, genetics, and population demographics (age, sex ratio, etc.).

Bison roundup operations are concluding today. We will be mobilizing equipment and personnel to the South Unit over the next few days to initiate the horse roundup operations early next week.

Update for October 1, 2024
Theodore Roosevelt National Park will begin operations to roundup bison on October 5 and horses on October 10 in the park and transfer them to Tribes or new homes. The park will transfer up to 200 bison and up to 15 horses to new homes as part of ongoing efforts to support healthy herds as well as park ecosystems.

Bison roundups are needed to ensure the park’s bison population, which is contained within a fenced environment, is appropriately sized. The horse roundup will support the development of a proactive strategy for horse management to create a healthy viewable population at the park that is manageable and minimizes impacts to park resources.

Animal health is a priority for the bison and horse roundups. The timing of these roundups was selected because animals are in optimal health after a long grazing season and cooler temperatures cause less heat related stress during the movement of animals.

The park will share regular updates regarding the bison and horse roundup progress. To ensure human and animal health and safety, the roundups are not open to the public. The park will work with volunteers who are familiar with the area and handling of horses at key times throughout the roundup. Please check our social media for updates over the next week.

September 27, 2024 News Release: Theodore Roosevelt National Park to Conduct Strategic Bison and Horse Operations

 

Learn about the history and management of the herd, and the park's adoption program.