Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the group of North Dakota leaders "made the case very clearly" for keeping the wild horses and "will work to get it done."
Gov. Doug Burgum asked park officials to work in collaboration with the state to find a solution that would allow the horses to stay while protecting the park's ecosystem.
Theodore Roosevelt brought 60 wild horses from Montana to his Maltese Cross Ranch near Medora. Theodore Roosevelt National Park officials want to remove wild horses from the park.
North Dakota officials, business groups, are speaking out in support of keeping the wild horse herd, a major tourist attraction to the western part of the state.
“This is a game changing gift for this transformative project,” Edward F. O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, said in a released statement.
Park administrators are proposing gradual elimination of the horse herd. Other alternatives include no change in managing the horses or expedited removal of the horses and longhorn cattle.
Despite high travel prices that put a slight damper on summer tourism in the state, preferable weather patterns have GFP officials excited for pheasant season. Resident season begins on public lands on Oct. 8. The full opener is scheduled for Oct. 15.
Local and state officials and others met to coordinate planning to meet infrastructure and other needs that will come from increased visitorship to Medora when the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opens in 2026.
Sunflowers, long grown by U.S. farmers for oil and confectionery uses, have increased in popularity among the general public during the past few years because of their bright and cheery appearance.
Sunflowers, long grown by U.S. farmers for oil and confectionery uses, have increased in popularity among the general public during the past few years because of their bright and cheery appearance.
Since a high water mark of attendance in 2015, attendance at the rally, a key driver of summer tourism in South Dakota, has stagnated around a half-million total attendees. Sturgis's city manager says attracting more first-time attendees is a major focus of the city's rally and events department.
