Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act

This bill would require the Department of the Interior to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses within the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Department would be tasked with creating a management plan to protect these horses while preventing damage to the park's natural resources. Additionally, the proposal would prohibit the removal of horses except for emergency situations, public health and safety concerns, or to maintain the herd's genetic diversity.

This bill primarily affects the Department of the Interior, which is tasked with managing and monitoring the horse population within Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The legislation also impacts the herd of horses located in the South Unit of the park by establishing minimum population requirements and genetic diversity protections. Additionally, the public is affected by provisions aimed at protecting health and safety and ensuring the preservation of natural resources within the park.

• Mandatory horse herd maintenance. The Department of the Interior is required to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses within the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.
• Management plan development. The Department of the Interior must create a management plan designed to protect the horse population while preventing adverse impacts on the park's natural resources.
• Restrictions on horse removal. The bill prohibits the removal of horses from the park except for the purposes of maintaining genetic diversity, responding to emergencies, or protecting public health and safety.
• Annual monitoring and reporting. The Department of the Interior must conduct annual assessments of the herd's population, structure, and health, and publish these findings for the public.

• S. 1377, Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act
  Feb 17, 2026 · As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on December 17, 2025

The bill establishes specific management requirements for the Department of the Interior regarding the horse population within the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a unit of the National Park System. It mandates the creation of a new management plan to balance horse protection with the existing preservation of the park's natural resources.

The bill aims to ensure the permanent presence of a genetically diverse horse population in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by requiring the Department of the Interior to maintain a herd of at least 150 horses. It establishes a management framework to protect the horses while safeguarding the park's natural resources and public health.