Frequently Asked Questions About Longhorn Cattle

Longorn Cattle Home Page

Note: FAQ will be updated with new answers identified by date below original answers for each question to maintain a record of changes for site user reference.

 

 

Q1: Why is management of horses and longhorn cattle being evaluated in a combined Livestock Management Plan and Environmental Assessment?

A1 original: Both species are domestic livestock with populations maintained on NPS lands to represent a cultural scene. These animals are authorized under the same policy for the same purpose of enhancing visitor experience, and management of both must be equally balanced with resource stewardship priorities of NPS.

A1 updated on December 12, 2022: Both species are domestic livestock that occur on NPS lands. Their presence as a non-native species is guided by the same policy.

Q2: Will comments on the longhorn cattle portal be included in the record of the new Livestock Demonstration Herd Management Plan?

A2: No. Comments on the Livestock Demonstration Herd Management Plan must be submitted to the PEPC project site or through postal correspondence to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, c/o Livestock Demonstration Herd Management Plan, P.O. Box 7, Medora, ND 58645.

Q3: What is a demonstration herd?

A3: A demonstration herd is defined as an administrative use of non-native livestock that maintains a cultural scene.

Q4: Why are the cattle managed by the park all steer?

A4: The 1970 Management Plan for Longhorn Cattle states that all animals are to be steers to preclude production of undesirable surplus cattle.

Q5: Why are longhorn cattle provided hay, supplements, shelter, and veterinary services?

A5: The longhorn cattle are managed in a more controlled environment, where they can be handled and afforded supportive care. They are accustomed to human interaction, and are not regularly confined where such care can be rendered or where supplements can be isolated from wildlife consumption.

Q6: Are the cattle branded, tagged, or otherwise marked?

A6: Some cattle were branded and tagged prior to their arrival at the park. NPS registers the Elkhorn brand but has not applied it to park livestock. Use of the Elkhorn brand will be evaluated in a new management planning process.

Q7: Are sick or injured cattle euthanized?

A7: Sick or seriously injured cattle are euthanized by gunshot to the crania. Euthanasia techniques will be evaluated in a new management planning process.

Q8: Does the park have formal or informal partnerships for management of longhorn cattle?

A8: No. NPS has acquired cattle from multiple external locations and has managed them as a small non-reproductive herd as part of park operations.

Q9: What National Environmental Policy Act tool will be used for this management plan, and when will the scoping period begin?

A9 original: We are in the pre-NEPA stage of planning, but it is anticipated that an Environmental Assessment (EA) will be completed for this management plan. Based on current management, existing conditions, and previous studies, the range of management alternatives proposed are not anticipated to be significant, therefore an environmental assessment is the appropriate NEPA pathway. If in the process of analysis, it is determined that there is the potential for significant impacts which cannot be mitigated, then an environmental impact statement would be prepared. Public scoping is planned for summer 2022. A third opportunity to comment will be when the draft EA is issued for formal public comment.

A9 updated on December 12, 2022: We are in the scoping stage of planning, and it is anticipated that an Environmental Assessment (EA) will be completed for the livestock plan. Based on current management, existing conditions, and previous studies, the range of management alternatives proposed are not anticipated to be significant, therefore an environmental assessment is the appropriate NEPA pathway. If in the process of analysis, it is determined that there is the potential for significant impacts which cannot be avoided or mitigated, then an Environmental Impact Statement would be prepared. Another opportunity to provide input will be when the EA is issued for formal public comment.

Q10: Will visitor experience be considered in development of the new Management Plan?

A10: Yes, visitor experience will be evaluated along with a range of other factors in the development of the plan and associated Environmental Assessment.

Q11: How is contraception currently applied differently between cattle and horses?

A11: Horses are currently treated with the immunocontraceptive GonaCon Equine, delivered by darts or hand injections. Animals typically become fertile again within a few years, in the absence of additional injections. The cattle currently on park lands are all steers, which were castrated prior to NPS ownership. Therefore, existing cattle are no longer capable of reproducing. A range of fertility control options and herd management goals will be explored for both horses and cattle during the planning process.

Q12: Why does terminology for animals differ between parks across NPS?

A12: Though park units may differ in their description of animals for public communications and interpretation purposes, all parks generally adhere to the same policies governing their management service-wide.

Q13: Do longhorn cattle occur in Designated Wilderness at Theodore Roosevelt National Park?

A13: The longhorn cattle have not been excluded from Designated Wilderness and occasionally occur there.

Q14: What is the park’s definition of livestock?

A14: Livestock means any species of animal that has been selectively bred by humans for domestic and agricultural purposes including but not limited to cattle, sheep, horses, burros, mules, goats and swine.

Q15: How does NPS define native and non-native species?

A15: Native species are defined as all species that have occurred, now occur, or may occur as a result of natural processes on lands designated as units of the national park system. Native species in a place are evolving in concert with each other. Exotic species are those species that occupy or could occupy park lands directly or indirectly as the result of deliberate or accidental human activities. Exotic species are also commonly referred to as nonnative, alien, or invasive species. Because an exotic species did not evolve in concert with the species native to the place, the exotic species is not a natural component of the natural ecosystem at that place. Genetically modified organisms exist solely due to human activities and therefore are managed as exotic species in parks.

Q16: Why would livestock be removed from NPS lands?

A16: The enabling legislation for Theodore Roosevelt National Park has no provisions to require or allow livestock. Further, 2006 NPS Management Policies guides NPS management and prioritizes conservation of natural and cultural resources, including native ecosystems, of which livestock are not a part.

Q17: Why have some of the preliminary alternatives changed from those presented during Civic Engagement?

A17: As part of early planning stages, a wide range of preliminary alternatives are put forth to inspire thought and enable constructive feedback from stakeholders during Civic Engagement. The information from that process, along with a rigorous review of enabling legislation, NPS policy, statutory law, and current conditions of resources is used to further develop and refine the range of alternatives to be considered during this scoping period.

Q18: What is the “No Action Alternative”?

A18: The No Action Alternative describes no change from current management direction or level of management intensity, provides a benchmark for a decision maker to compare what would happen to the environment if current management were to continue, versus what would happen to the environment if one of the action alternatives were selected for implementation.

Q19: What would livestock removal mean for bison?

A19: Livestock compete with bison and other wildlife for resources and space. Removal of >200 horses and cattle would increase available forage, providing contingency resources during drought years and providing reserve capacity to maximize or alter bison herd sizes allowing for greater genetic resiliency. Absence of livestock would also enable reestablishment of natural grazing regimes to benefit native plant life and natural ecosystem function. Removal of cattle would also mitigate risk to bison through contraction and transmission of Micoplasma bovis, a common disease of cattle that causes mortality in bison.

Q20: Why is the park pursuing a Livestock Plan now?

A20: The Park has been grappling with the issue of livestock for years. The Park is embarking on this Plan now to address non-native horse and cattle herds within the park to better conserve the native species and natural prairie ecosystem functions.

Q21: Who are the subject matter experts involved in planning and who will make the final decision on the plan?

A21: The interdisciplinary team engaged in planning consists of NPS and contracted staff specializing in a spectrum of disciplines including but not limited to biology, veterinary medicine, animal behavior, wildlife biology, rangeland ecology, law enforcement, planning and policy, communications, archeology, and paleontology. Final recommendation on the plan will be made by the park Superintendent and final decision will be made by the Regional Director.

Q22: Why is the park not conducting in-person public meetings?

A22: During the COVID-19 pandemic NPS was required conduct public meetings virtually. We observed during that time that more people were able to participate virtually. We understood that many would want to attend the Livestock Plan meetings and hosted them virtually to accommodate all.

Q23: Some wildlife (e.g., elk, deer) are farmed in domestic environments. Do these species fit the definition of livestock?

A23: Though some native wildlife has been farmed, representatives of these species that occur on park lands have not been subjected to such practices in their natural history and, therefore, are wildlife. Please see FAQ 15 for information on native species.

Q24: If conservation is a primary purpose of the park, then why are cultural sites, like the Elkhorn Ranch, also maintained?

A24: NPS is charged with stewardship of both natural and cultural resources. Historic resources are preserved, and in some instances an intact cultural landscape is present. However, there is no requirement to maintain historic practices for these resources at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Q25: What is the cost to manage livestock?

A25: Many park staff are involved in the management of livestock at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The management of livestock includes staff time and salary in addition to supplies and contracted services. Many of the associated activities and costs have not been tracked individually, therefore estimates of annual and long-term costs are not available.

Q26: What type of questions and comments should I be submitting? What is a substantive comment?

A26: The public is asked to submit comments, concerns, and suggestions related to the project goals, proposed actions, and potential environmental consequences. Substantive comments are those that suggest alternative approaches or ideas for accomplishing the purpose and need, relay information that needs to be considered (such as related research) and why, share information on how a project might affect visitor use, and give the range of environmental and socioeconomic issues that need to be considered.

Substantive comments raise, debate, or question a point of fact or analysis (see NEPA Handbook (nps.gov). Comments that merely support or oppose a proposal or that merely agree or disagree with NPS policy are not considered substantive and do not require a formal response.

Public comments are an important aspect of the planning and management process. The NPS has extended the public comment period to November 24, 2023, to provide additional opportunity for public comment. Please remember, questions submitted through this portal will continue to be answered through updated FAQs.

Please provide formal comments here: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/LP

Q27: How many public comments have been submitted?

A27: As we have with the previous two periods of public involvement, the NPS we will share a public comment summary which will include the number of correspondences received.

During the March 16 to April 18, 2022, civic engagement period, the NPS received 1,774 pieces of correspondence, of those 1,242 were unique, 533 were part of 4 separate form-letter campaigns. Form-letter campaigns use a standardized correspondence letter which is generally initiated by non-government advocacy group. Form letters are those with identical or nearly identical text.

During the December 12, 2022 to January 31, 2023, public scoping period, the NPS received 19,012 pieces of correspondence. Of the 19,012 correspondences, 5, 138 correspondences were unique, and 13,874 were part of four separate form-letter campaigns.

Q28: How do I get information about other park actions?

A28: Check the park’s website for regular updates. Park staff also shares news releases to stakeholders and media including local news outlets and also on the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Facebook page.

Q29: Is the park engaging with the State Historic Preservation Office, specifically the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act (known as NHPA)?

A29: Yes. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), Theodore Roosevelt National Park is developing a Livestock Plan to address livestock, horses and cattle herds, within the park, under relevant laws, regulations, policies, and park management priorities including the conservation of native species and natural prairie ecosystem functions. The NPS is also separately and concurrently assessing the applicability of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), as amended (54 USC 306108), and its implementing regulations (36 CFR 800).

Q30: Is bison management within the scope of the plan?

A30: We are not proposing any bison management activities within the plan/EA. Bison are managed under different management authorities and law/policy/guidance.

 

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