Background
Theodore Roosevelt National Park manages feral horses (currently with a herd size of roughly 200 animals), alongside native elk, bison, and other species of conservation concern. Nonnative species including horses and cattle were ranched free-range in the Badlands of North Dakota since the late 1800s. With park establishment in 1947, efforts began to remove cattle and horses from NPS lands. However, in 1956, when the park perimeter was fenced (enclosing approximately 46,000 acres) to enable re-introduction of bison, remnant bands of horses remained within the South Unit of THRO. Roundup and sale became the primary method of horse herd management. An Environmental Assessment was completed in 1978 defining management techniques and establishing a population objective of 35-60 animals. Since then, much research (habitat use, forage, genetics, contraception, etc.) has been conducted and published on this herd, and current research includes a spatial use study informed by combination GPS/VHF collars. THRO seeks to build off this research and develop scenario-driven population viability models that will support science-informed decision making as the park sets future herd management policies and objectives.
Brief Description of Anticipated Work
NPS wishes to conduct a Population Viability Analysis (PVA) that considers horse herd genetics, management scenarios, population objectives, and biological factors, to ensure that management actions minimize the ecological effects of the herd on the natural ecology of the park while satisfying concerns regarding genetic diversity of the horse herd.
Key questions include:
- Which management scenario(s) increase and sustain genetic diversity of the horse herd at healthy levels (i.e. in the absence of genetic disease and inbreeding depression) for the next century or longer?
- What number of horses and demographic stratification of the herd is necessary to ensure the herd’s genetic diversity, relative to intensity of management?
- Which external genetic sources provide the greatest benefit to the herd for genetic augmentation, given the current genetics and phenotypic variation of the herd?
Please see the attached document for more information about anticipated work.
Deadline: February 20th, 2025, 5:00 pm Central Time. This Request for Statements of Interest will remain open until that time.
Period of Performance
Please note, this project seeks to have preliminary results by September 30, 2025, but the full period of performance for this Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Cooperative Agreement will be up to 36 months.
Eligibility and Funds Available
We are intending to use fiscal year 2025 funds for this project. A budget of $70,000 to $80,000 inclusive of 17.5% Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) indirect costs is anticipated to be available for this effort during 2025. NPS is actively seeking additional funds for this effort, and the cooperator needs to be able to scale up or extend the project if additional funds become available. Non-federal partners of any CESU network are eligible to apply. Entities that are eligible and willing to join a CESU network prior to the final award are also eligible to apply.
Direct questions and statements of interest to: Blake McCann, blake_mccann@nps.gov, 701- 623-4730 x1433.
Attached Files:
Request for Statement of Interest (RSOI)