Tempers flare after 1-year-old wild horse is euthanized at North Dakota national park

Just two days after a 1-year-old filly was released following a wild horse roundup, she was found fatally injured and alone — stirring anger at a North Dakota national park.

The filly was one of 178 wild horses captured during a recent helicopter roundup at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, according to a Facebook post by park officials.

“Upon investigation, we found a one-year-old female horse exhibiting lameness. The veterinarian examined the animal this evening and determined the humane course of action was to euthanize,” the park said in a Friday, Oct. 18 post.

While the horse was in captivity at a “handling facility,” a veterinarian noticed a “small cut on its front left leg,” officials said.

Despite the seemingly minor injury, the filly was released back into the park, according to officials. But she didn’t make it very far.

“After the exam the animal was cleared to be released with its band Wednesday morning. Since then, the animal has traversed 5 miles with its band and the condition has worsened,” the park said.

The news quickly caught the attention of advocates and others, who say the horse’s injury was caused by the roundup, and they blame the national park for the horse’s death.

“This is 100% on the park,” Chris Kman, of Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates, told The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. “They did this.”

The roundups are part of the park’s efforts to maintain a healthy — and controlled — horse population, officials told McClatchy News, adding that DNA samples are collected and some of the animals are fitted with GPS devices so researchers can track their location and movements.

The NPS had planned to remove the horses from the park, until they reversed course in April after years of backlash, McClatchy reported.

Kman’s group learned about the fate of the filly, named Aspen, after receiving a call from someone in the park, according to a social media post.

“We raced to the park to find 2023 Filly Aspen laying on the ground with an injury to her leg. There was no sign of her band anywhere,” it read.

“We have no idea what happened but one thing is for sure — THIS ONE YEAR OLD BABY WAS PERFECTLY FINE BEFORE THE HORRIFIC ROUNDUP THIS WEEK!!!!”

Kman’s group wasn’t alone in criticizing the park. Many left comments on the national park’s social media, calling Aspen’s death “shameful” and avoidable.

“She was a beautiful healthy young filly before she was injured during captivity,” a comment read.

But some thanked park officials for announcing what happened, and said the National Park Service is in a tricky position when it comes to the wild horses.

“Well, it’s a difficult situation. We need to manage them, and sometimes things happen,” one comment read. “I’m glad they are still there, and glad they are managed.”

Though many believe Aspen’s injury resulted from the roundup, the park has not said how or when she sustained the cut to her leg.

McClatchy News has reached out to the park and to the National Park Service for comment.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park encompasses about 70,000 acres of land, and is a roughly 130-mile drive west from Bismarck.

This story was originally published October 23, 2024 at 9:38 AM with the headline "Tempers flare after 1-year-old wild horse is euthanized at North Dakota national park."