Regarding horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park…horses are not native to North America. They were brought in by the Spaniards. Some of the beginnings of horses running “wild” in the Badlands came about from release of horses after there were autos to use, and tractors for machinery. Some were released after WWI. So, they have a history to the state, just not a native one.

Horses eat a tremendous amount of forage, potentially reducing food for animals native to the Badlands. That needs to be protected and considered. Bison are native. The park isn’t in the farm business where they would buy hay and feed for bison in times of low forage access. The badlands are limited in grass due to hills and buttes. The best people to make the decision on how many horses to retain in the park are those who manage the wildlife there, who know the limits of forage and space in the park, who know the history behind it. Public opinion should not force a decision as to how many that should be.