North Dakota Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify before a U.S. House Natural Resources subcommittee on the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act. The legislation, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in June, would require the National Park Service to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses in the park's South Unit.

During her testimony, Coleman highlighted the important role the wild horses play in North Dakota's tourism industry and the visitor experience at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The horses have become an iconic part of the Badlands landscape and an experience many travelers specifically hope to see when visiting the park.

Protecting the herd would help preserve that distinctive experience for future visitors while supporting the communities and businesses that benefit from tourism in western North Dakota. Coleman's testimony provided an opportunity to share North Dakota's tourism perspective with federal lawmakers as the legislation continues through the U.S. House.

Read the InForum article here

Source: ND Commerce Connection, September 2026