by Kaycee Monnens for Tri-State Livestock News
As a routine management matter, the Teddy Roosevelt National Park plans to remove a few horses from its herd.
The American Wild Horse Campaign, whose aim is to “keep wild horses and burros wild,” recently released a statement which claimed that the Teddy Roosevelt National Park has begun a removal of the herd.
To be clear: “There are no plans to remove the herd from the park. Currently, the park manages to prevent growth of the herd, with annual removal objectives matching reproductive input. This remains the park’s goal.”
Yearly management of the herd has been in place since its institution. “Horse capture and removal has been standard practice since the herd was fenced into the park with the first roundup of 200 animals in 1954. Herd reduction is conducted to maintain healthy animal numbers considering available forage and competition with native wildlife. This remains the park’s goal. Management of the horse herd is
A system sweeping in from the north is bringing cooler weather and also moisture to the parched Northern Plains, aiding crews that have been battling wildfires in western North Dakota including a large one in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The 8-square-mile Horse Pasture Fire in the park s North Unit was 95% contained Monday, with the other 5% encompassing rugged Badlands terrain, according to National Park Service Fire Information Officer Mike Johnson. Officials have lifted numerous restrictions and planned to reopen the park s scenic drive Tuesday.
But the precipitation isn t likely to have a dramatic impact on extreme drought blanketing much of the state, even with some northern areas expected to get several inches of snow by midweek.
The winter of 2020-2021 has been extremely dry, warm and windy.
As of April 12, all of North Dakota was in drought, with approximately 70% of the state in extreme drought (D3 on a scale of D0 to D4). This condition has created a “perfect storm,” with large amounts of dry vegetation, low humidity, dry soils and wind fueling a high-risk environment for wildfires.
So, what are the impacts of fire on the plant community and forage production, soil erosion and animal health?
“Let’s start with the plant community,” says Kevin Sedivec, North Dakota State University Extension rangeland management specialist and director of NDSU’s Central Grasslands Research Extension Center. “Because the wildfires to date have been classified as dormant-season fires (prior to the growing season), there should be no impact on the plant community in terms of species change on rangelands, plant density on grass hay stands or forage production of new growth.”
Bighorn herd rebounds from disease to reach record numbers
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Apr 12, 2021 at 11:14 am EDT
BISMARCK, N.D. Bighorns in western North Dakota have rebounded from an outbreak of bacterial pneumonia seven years ago to reach record numbers, according to the state Game and Fish Department’s survey.
The herd south of Interstate 94, however, continues to struggle and and is at its smallest size in about two decades, the survey showed.
The count shows 322 bighorns, up 11% from 2019 and 13% above the five-year average.
About 40 bighorns in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and sheep recently introduced to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation aren’t included in the count, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
North Dakota wildlife officials tout historical significance of bighorn count bismarcktribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bismarcktribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.