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Animals Around the Globe

Tiger Safari: The Complete Guide

Posted: November 26, 2023 | Last updated: November 26, 2023

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There was a time when you could see wild Tigers all over Asia, but now they are driven back into only 13 countries, with some projects in places like Africa to re-introduce them to the wild. The tiger remains the largest living cat in the world and is simply magnificent to observe.

Best Places to See Tigers

We looked at the best places for tiger safari or global tours. You can see tigers in the wild in 13 different countries, but these 5 offer the highest sighting probability.

Do you want to find the best places to see tigers in the wild? Look at what we collected in the Tiger Safari or Tour guide.

#1 Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

India offers one of the best Tiger spotting opportunities in the world, with over 50 Tier resorts called the "Tiger State." 

India is home to seventy percent of the world’s tiger population, with the Bengal tiger population at 2226 during the last census in 2014. The state of Madhya Pradesh is India’s Tiger State; it is located a few hours south of Deli. 

#2 Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

• Bandhavgarh National Park Tours
• Driver Tours India
• Nature Safari India

Tiger Safari Operators: 

How to get there: Durminskoye Reserve is about two hours drive from Khabarovsk, in the Southeastern part of Russia in Khabarovsk Krai. 

To make a difference today, raise awareness for these beautiful animals and join a Tiger Safari or Tour.

A white tiger was caught in this area in 1957, whose offspring can be seen in zoos and circuses worldwide. Other predator species in the area include leopard, striped hyena, sloth bear, wild dog, reed cat, golden jackal, spotted musang, and Indian mongoose.

The best-known animal species in the park is the Bengal tiger, of which almost 50 animals lived in the park in 1997. The big cats are not shy and can be observed particularly well here.

The hilly landscape is dominated by a plateau on which once stood the fort of the Maharajas. Nearby are grasslands rich in game, originating from swamps once created to protect the fort. Some of these swamps still exist. Salt forests dominate the rest. 

The Bandhavgarh National Park is a national park in Madhya Pradesh, India. It covers an area of about 480 square kilometers and is located about 300 km south of Khajuraho in the Vindhya Mountains.  The park is considered one of the most reliable places to observe wild tigers.

#3 Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India

• Satpura National Park Tours
• Pugdun Safaris

How to get there: The Satpura Tiger Reserve, also known as Satpura National Park, is located in the Indian district of Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh. 

This is a different kind of tiger sanctuary with many differences in altitude and gorgeous greenery, reminiscent of Robert Frost’s beautiful forests. There is a lot of wildlife here. It is undoubtedly an underestimated but wonderful place worth visiting. The drive to the place itself through the mountains is amazingly scenic.

Even though the chances of tiger sightings in Satpura Tiger Reserve are not the highest, the park offers walking safaris, a unique way to experience wildlife. 

Saptura Tiger Reserve is a wonderful place in Madhya Pradesh. However, it is doubtful to see Tiger because there are only 50 tigers in the 1200 sq km National Park. 

#4 Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan, India

Those who want to see a tiger in Ranthambhore with some certainty should have at least 2 days. Nevertheless, some luck belongs to it to get one of the striped big cats to face. It is an enormously exciting experience!

The area is known for its Bengal tigers, which are not very shy and can be easily observed even during the day. Furthermore, it is one of the most western occurrences of the striped big cat at.

The Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is one of 53 tiger reserves in India. The reserve includes Ranthambhore National Park, Kaila Devi Game Reserve, and other small units. In total, it covers an area of 1335 km².

#5 Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, India

• Corbett Tiger National Park Tours
• Corbett Tiger Reserve Tours

The main form of vegetation is the saline forests; at higher altitudes, there are also some pine stands. In the lowlands, there are riverine forests, whose stands are interrupted by grasslands called “chaurs” by the locals. It is only open from November to June.

The largest river in the park is the Ramganga, which flows into a large lake at the western border of the reserve. Broad valleys and hills characterize the landscape. A chain of hills runs east-west in the middle of the area. 

It was initially called Hailey National Park, but in 1957, it was renamed Corbett National Park after it was temporarily called Ramganga National Park in 1952. Corbett National Park covers almost 521 square kilometers. Together with the adjacent Sonanadi Conservation Area, it forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve, established in 1973 as part of Project Tiger.

Corbett National Park is in the Indian state of Uttarakhand at the foot of the Himalayas. It is named after the British hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett, who was instrumental in establishing the first national park in India near Nainital in 1936. Interesting for Tiger Safari or Tour.

#6 Sundarbans-Nationalpark and Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India

• Sunderbans National Park Tours
• Sunderbans-Park Tour

How to get there: The park is located in the Sundarbans in the Ganges Delta and borders the Sundarban Reserve Forest in Bangladesh.

Also, look at our India Big 5 Article to explore Indian Wildlife.

Among the mammals , the Bengal Tiger is also the absolute highlight in Sundarbans National Park. At present, there are estimated between 350 and 400 wild Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans. This is the largest remaining tiger population worldwide!

The name comes from Bengali and means “beautiful forest”. The Sundarbans cover an area of 10,000 square kilometers in the delta of the largest rivers in South Asia, the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. The Indian state of West Bengal shares the mangrove area with Bangladesh.

The Sundarbans are the most extensive mangrove forests in the world and the only ones where Bengal tigers live at the same time, they have been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 1987. 

West Bengal is home to one of the world’s largest tiger populations, with over 350 tigers in a 140,000-hectare mangrove forest close to the Bangladesh border. It is a world heritage site, and visitors can take boat safaris. A very famous place for Tiger Safari or Tours.

#7 Chitwan National Park, Chitwan, Nepal

• Chitwan Jungle Tours
• Chitwan Jungle Safari 

How to get there: The Chitwan National Park is located southwest of Kathmandu in the Terai. 

The Chitwan National Park is the best known in the country. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the first national park in Nepal . Dusk jeep safari is very popular, mainly in the morning and evening. The more relaxed parts of the day offer the best chance to see a Tiger. 

Due to increased conservation efforts, Nepal's Bengal Tiger population doubled in the last decade, with more than 235 individuals in the five national parks. 

#9 The Sundarbans, Bangladesh

• Bengal Tours (three-day)
• Guide Tours (three-day)
• Responsible Travel (eight-day safari) 

Tiger Safari Operators:

How to get there: The sundarbans national park is located in the south west of bangladesh, around 6 hours drive from Dhaka. 

You can also see saltwater crocodiles, wild boar, languages and many birds .

However, Tiger sightings in Bangladesh are rare , compared to other countries.  Another interesting place for Tiger Safaris or Tiger Tours. Operators offer Boat tours from the city of Khulna in the southwest. Bed and Breakfast on the leading boat, track tigers on smaller boats or en foot (with armed security personal)

It’s the home of more than 1120 Bengal tigers. 

Welcome to the world’s largest mangrove forest, starting in India and going through Bangladesh. 

#10 Durminskoye Reserve, Chabarowsk Region Russia

• Russia Tiger Tracking
• Visit Russia

How to get there: Durminskoye Reserve is about two hours’ drive from Khabarovsk, in the South-Eastern part of Russia in Khabarovsk Krai. 

Tourist tiger safaris are organized like science tours, tracking pug marks on snowmobiles and on food, setting camera traps reviewing footage. What else is there? You can see wolves, lynxes, badgers, foxes, and raptors. In the summer even Asian black bears

However, with only around 540 individuals left in the wild, the chance to see one is slight. Most of the Tiger Safari tours are based in Durminskoye Reserve, it is a 50.000-acre wildlife sanctuary a three hours drive from Khabarovsk in southeast Russia. It is the last prime habitat for Siberian tigers.

In the 1940s, they were hunted to the brink of extinction and only saved due to the new protection grant of tigers in Russia in 1965. 

The majestic Siberian Tiger, mainly found in eastern Russia or northern China, is our planet’s largest tiger species and cat. It is sadly also the most endangered .  

#12 Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia

• Wild Sumatra
• Trijaya Travel

How to get there: The main entrance and the national park office are in Sungai Penuh. There you can get a visit permit and find hiking guides. Alternatively, accommodations in the Kerinci Seblat National Park’s surroundings often help their guests get a visit permit and reliable hiking guides. Look for a Tiger Safari or Tour.

There are also about 200 bird species. Among the more than 4000 plant species that grow in Kerinci Seblat National Park are the giant reflower, the titan’s root, various orchids and the edelweiss.

Numerous rare or even endangered species, such as the Sumatran tiger, the clouded leopard, the tree leopard, the Sumatran rhinoceros, the Malay bear, and the Malayan tapir, is at home in Kerinci Seblat National Park. 

Various species accordingly characterize the fauna and flora of the Kerinci Seblat National Park. 

However, the National Park offers another Sighting, the Sumatran Tiger . Around 200 Tigers roam in the wild, using Tourists as one factor to save their habitat and survival. 

The Kerinci Seblat National Park is twice the size of the famous Bali Island, which is well known for its tourists. 

Get to know Tigers

Do you like Big Cats?  Have a look at the best places to see Lynx .

Because humans hunt it and destroy its habitat, which once stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

Tiger habitats are pretty diverse and can be found in more places than you’d think! They live in Siberia’s dense forests and roam Malaysia’s jungles. But things are not going well for these elegant cats of prey. Although the tiger has no natural enemies, it is threatened with extinction. 

Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey.

Tiger Endangerment

The IUCN red list puts the Tiger status to endangered : 

Poachers are also a great danger. They hunt the tigers because they can sell the big cats’ body parts well. Because claws, teeth, brain, and other parts are processed into medicine in traditional Chinese medicine and are in great demand. Hunting tigers as trophies have cost many animals their lives, especially in the last century.

The World Wide Fund For Nature ( WWF ) assumes that less than ten percent of the original habitat is left. The reasons are manifold. For example, mineral resources such as coal or oil are extracted in some regions. Deforestation of the rainforest is also a significant problem, as is the development of inaccessible areas by roads.

The South Chinese tiger is considered extinct in the accessible wilderness. According to the WWF species lexicon, experts assume that there are only a few isolated individuals, if at all. Therefore, the last hope of preserving the species lies in the few animals in Chinese zoos. The remaining five species now live in only 13 countries in Asia. Most of them are native to India, where it is estimated that there are about 1700 tigers.

A little more than a hundred years ago, there were still about 100,000 tigers living in large parts of Asia . There are still about 3900 animals; the Bali, Caspian, and Java tigers are extinct. Amazing animals for a Tiger Safari or Tour.

How Dangerous are Tigers?

That is why wild animals respect them. But if a trainer, for example, stumbles and loses his position of power, it can become dangerous even for him. Also, to strange tigers, he would not dare to enter the cage. By the way, in the wilderness, animals only rarely attack humans. If, for example, a shark hurts a surfer, it is only because he mistakes him for a seal. You can see this because, unlike its usual prey, it does not eat it. 

Nevertheless, some people can go into a tiger or lion cage without being attacked, for example, tamers in the circus. They know their animals well and are something like the leader. 

For Tiger, a human being is a big animal. And when an animal is in its enclosure, the tiger wants to hunt it because he has an innate hunting instinct. 

Approximately 100 people die every year due to attacks by tigers. Probably, humans are often to blame for this themselves because they provoke the animals.

Tigers in Zoos and National Parks

The consequences for the animals are fatal: Massive damage to their health, severe behavioral disorders, and increased mortality.  This Tiger Safari or Tour guide should highlight only sustainable places to go.

• Perform feats for which they are often trained by force,
• Have to change venues 50 times a year on average,
• Spend most of their time in small cages, inadequate enclosures, or in the transport wagon,
• That essential species-specific behavior such as social contacts or movement are considerably restricted or made completely impossible,
• that they have little variety or occupation,
• that they are often not fed and cared for appropriately,
• That veterinary control or care is often inadequate because there are only a few specialized veterinarians for wild animals nationwide or the circus cannot or will not afford the treatment financially,
• that in many cases the circus operators lack the necessary expertise,
• that there is no fixed winter quarters during the play-free period. Only about every tenth company can call a winter accommodation its own.

Nevertheless, animals of wild species can still be seen in many circus operations that travel around the world: Tigers, lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, sea lions or monkeys – the range of animal species carried along is extensive. Wild animals suffer in the circus. They suffer massively, because:

Wild animals make exceptionally high demands on their keeping and accommodation. In a circus enterprise, responsible keeping wild animals is generally impossible.

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John Hynes of Minnesota Wild to coach U.S. men’s national team at world championships in Czechia

FILE - Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes talks with referee Kendrick Nicholson (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. John Hynes of the Minnesota Wild has been named the coach of the 2024 U.S. men’s national team for the upcoming IIHF Men’s World Championship next month in Czechia. USA Hockey announced the appointment on Friday, April 19, for the event that will take place from May 10-26. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — John Hynes of the Minnesota Wild has been named the coach of the 2024 U.S. men’s national team for next month’s IIHF men’s world championship in Czechia.

USA Hockey announced the appointment on Friday for the event that will take place from May 10-26. The games will be played in Prague and Ostrava.

Hynes, who also coached the national team in 2016 and ’19, finished his first season as coach of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild this week, missing the playoffs. The 49-year-old has also been a head coach for the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils, and for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL.

“We’re fortunate to have John leading our team,” said Brett Peterson, general manager of the 2024 U.S. men’s national team and also the assistant general manager of the NHL’s Florida Panthers. “His passion and energy, coupled with his vast experience, including on the world stage, will certainly serve us well in our efforts to bring back gold to the United States.”

The Warwick, Rhode Island, native spent six seasons (2003-09) as a head coach for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Hynes played at Boston University and competed in four NCAA Frozen Fours, winning the championship in 1995.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

StarTribune

Wild roster 2024-25: who stays and who goes after playoff failure.

The Wild are almost at gridlock, with most of their lineup under contract. But that doesn't mean management won't look to make changes, especially after the Wild didn't make the playoffs. Star Tribune NHL beat writer Sarah McLellan analyzes the team's roster and forecasts what's ahead for each player:

ADAM BECKMAN

Left/right wing (age 22)

Beckman had a chance to make an impression on team brass during a late-season promotion from the minors but chipped in only two assists.

Contract: Restricted free agent.

2024-25 outlook: Re-signing Beckman would give Iowa back its top goal getter.

ZACH BOGOSIAN

Defense (age 33)

The physical, shutdown defender arrived as-advertised after an in-season trade from Tampa Bay.

Contract: Signed through 2025-26.

2024-25 outlook: Bogosian's skill set fits the third pairing when the Wild are healthy.

Right wing (age 23)

John Hynes taking over as coach coincided with Boldy's turnaround: Boldy finished with 29 goals after suffering a shoulder injury early and capitalizing just once in his first 12 games.

Contract: Signed through 2029-30.

2024-25 outlook: Consistency is key for Boldy to be a year-in, year-out 30-goal scorer.

JONAS BRODIN

Defense (age 30)

Injury limited Brodin's workload but not his impact as one of the Wild's top defensemen.

Contract: Signed through 2027-28.

2024-25 outlook: Brodin staying on the ice is vital to the Wild blue line playing up to its potential.

DECLAN CHISHOLM

Defense (age 24)

A midseason waiver pickup from Winnipeg who settled into regular duty with the Wild that included running the point on the power play.

2024-25 outlook: The offensive instincts Chisholm showcased as a rookie were intriguing, and more reps in his own end should improve his defensive game.

JOEL ERIKSSON EK

Center (age 27)

Set a career high in points for a fifth straight season and posted 30 goals for the first time as the Wild's No.1 center.

Contract: Signed through 2028-29.

2024-25 outlook: Combining this level of production with how stingy he was a few seasons ago will make Eriksson Ek a Selke Trophy candidate as the NHL's best defensive forward.

BROCK FABER

Defense (age 21)

In his first full season with the Wild, Faber was the team's best defenseman; he skated the most minutes, handled challenging assignments and ignited offense.

Contract: Entry level.

2024-25 outlook: If the Wild don't sign Faber to an extension this summer, the price tag for a new deal will only go up should the former Gopher avoid a sophomore slump.

MARC-ANDRE FLEURY

Goalie (age 39)

Aside from being just the fourth goaltender to appear in 1,000 games, Fleury passed Patrick Roy for the second-most wins in league history.

Contract: Signed through 2024-25.

2024-25 outlook: This will be the future Hall of Famer's final season before he retires.

MARCUS FOLIGNO

Left wing (age 32)

Was sidelined by a groin injury in the second half after securing a four-year extension during training camp.

2024-25 outlook: On the mend from season-ending surgery, Foligno is confident he can resurrect his rugged style.

FREDERICK GAUDREAU

Center/right wing (age 30)

After being one of the Wild's most versatile forwards over the past few years, Gaudreau had his worst showing since joining the team, going from 19 goals to five.

Contract: Signed through 2027-28

2024-25 outlook: Gaudreau needs a bounce-back season to re-establish his role in the lineup.

ALEX GOLIGOSKI

Defense (age 38)

The Grand Rapids native and former Gopher was a healthy scratch for almost two months before suiting up late in the season.

Contract: Free agent.

2024-25 outlook: Retirement is a possibility.

FILIP GUSTAVSSON

Goalie (age 25)

Went from being statistically the second-best goalie in the NHL to playing below the league average after receiving a long-term contract last summer.

2024-25 outlook: A dip like this makes Gustavsson's future uncertain since the Wild could explore a trade if they feel prospect Jesper Wallstedt is ready to team up with Fleury.

RYAN HARTMAN

Center (age 29)

Despite a couple lengthy droughts and two suspensions, Hartman eclipsed 20 goals.

Contract: Signed through 2026-27.

2024-25 outlook: Although few Wild players had more goals than Hartman, he has an opportunity to be a bigger factor — especially after getting a new contract in camp.

DAEMON HUNT

Made his NHL debut while the Wild defense was missing veterans early in the season due to injuries.

2024-25 outlook: With so many defensemen signed, another season as a call-up option is likely for Hunt.

MARCUS JOHANSSON

Left wing (33)

His chemistry with Boldy and Eriksson Ek fizzled, and Johansson barely exceeded 10 goals even though he sat out only four games.

2024-25 outlook: Better playmaking and execution from Johansson will bolster the Wild's depth.

KIRILL KAPRIZOV

Left wing (age 26)

Overcame injury to end up one goal shy of tying his career high at 47.

2024-25 outlook: How the season goes for the Wild could influence Kaprizov's decision to sign an extension when he's eligible next summer.

JUJHAR KHAIRA

Left wing (age 29)

Spent the season in Iowa except for one game with the Wild.

2024-25 outlook: Khaira exiting wouldn't be a surprise since the Wild recalled him from the American Hockey League only once.

MARAT KHUSNUTDINOV

Center (age 21)

The more minutes he logged, the more of a difference the longtime prospect made after leaving the KHL in Russia to start his NHL career.

2024-25 outlook: With the experience he gained, Khusnutdinov can make a seamless return and become more of a two-way presence for the Wild.

VINNI LETTIERI

Right wing (age 29)

Started in Iowa but ended up as a fourth liner because of injuries to other players.

2024-25 outlook: Could be back in the minors if the Wild upgrade their forward group, which is a priority.

JAKE LUCCHINI

Center (age 28)

Like Lettieri, Lucchini went from being a minor-leaguer to NHLer because the Wild weren't at full strength.

2024-25 outlook: Another two-way deal would keep Lucchini around as a reserve.

DAKOTA MERMIS

Also moved up the depth chart because the Wild were hurt.

2024-25 outlook: With how serviceable Mermis was, he could find a new home in free agency; otherwise, he'd probably remain an injury replacement if he re-upped with the Wild.

JON MERRILL

Defense (age 32)

When he wasn't a healthy scratch, Merrill was on the third pairing.

2024-25 outlook: Might be the odd man out when the Wild have all defensemen available.

JAKE MIDDLETON

Defense (age 28)

Worked with Faber most of the time and had his best offensive season to date.

2024-25 outlook: Reuniting with Jared Spurgeon could be just the boost Middleton needs in a contract year.

LIAM OHGREN

Left wing (age 20)

The 2022 first-round pick followed up a strong season in Sweden by making an impressive transition to the Wild.

2024-25 outlook: Has the talent to jolt the Wild offense based on what he previewed so far.

Right wing (age 22)

Acquired in the Calen Addison trade with San Jose, Raska filled in when the Wild were thin at forward.

2024-25 outlook: An addition for Iowa should the Wild bring him back.

MARCO ROSSI

Center (age 22)

Rossi finally stuck with the Wild and had a successful rookie campaign, recording 21 goals.

2024-25 outlook: Proving last season wasn't a fluke is his challenge.

Left wing (age 25)

Rejoined the Wild after healing a fourth ACL injury.

2024-25 outlook: What's next for Shaw is unclear: He could be on the bubble if the Wild re-sign him.

JARED SPURGEON

Defense (age 34)

A preseason shoulder injury delayed Spurgeon's debut before hip and back issues ended his season after only 16 games.

2024-25 outlook: Spurgeon expects to be ready for training camp after multiple surgeries.

SAMMY WALKER

Right wing (age 24)

The Wild were shorthanded for most of the season, but they rarely elevated Walker from the minors.

2024-25 outlook: Iowa would get to keep its leading scorer if the Wild give Walker a new contract.

JESPER WALLSTEDT

Goalie (age 21)

Rebounded from a rocky NHL debut by winning his next two starts during a late-season stint with the Wild.

2024-25 outlook: Should get even more NHL games, but whether that's as part of a tandem with Fleury or as the Wild's third goalie is to be determined.

MATS ZUCCARELLO

Right wing (age 36)

Led the Wild in assists (51) after agreeing to a two-year extension but was split up from Kaprizov and tallied less than 20 goals for the first time in three seasons.

2024-25 outlook: While he didn't contribute as much offense as when he was linemates with Kaprizov, Zuccarello still has the playmaking ability to be a catalyst.

Sarah McLellan covers the Wild and NHL. Before joining the Star Tribune in November 2017, she spent five years covering the Coyotes for The Arizona Republic.

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2024 NFL Draft: Where to watch, start time, channel, TV schedule, coverage, live stream, date, Round 1 order

The 2024 nfl draft promises to be a wild night.

The 2024 NFL Draft is upon us. After months of putting college football's best and brightest prospects under the microscope, it's time for teams to make their selections and 257 players are on the doorstep of hearing their names called, which will officially usher them into the NFL . 

First up will be the Chicago Bears . While they currently have the fewest overall picks (four) in this draft, they carry tremendous weight. The franchise owns the No. 1 overall pick which is earmarked for USC phenom Caleb Williams, who is billed as a generational quarterback prospect. Meanwhile, they also have the No. 9 overall pick. While the Bears could end up stealing the show with their two top-10 picks, there's plenty of intrigue elsewhere on the board. With as many as six quarterbacks potentially coming off the board in the first round, it sets the stage for pandemonium in Detroit. 

As we gear up for the three-day spectacle to unfold, here's everything you need to know to watch the 2024 NFL Draft . 

How to watch 2024 NFL Draft

• When:  Thursday, April. 25 (8 p.m. ET), Friday, April 26 (7 p.m. ET), Saturday, April 27 (12 p.m. ET)
• Where:  Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza (Detroit)
• TV:   NFL Network, ESPN, ABC |  Stream:  fubo  (try for free)  
• Follow:   CBS Sports App

NFL Draft order (first round)

• Chicago Bears (from Panthers)
• Washington Commanders
• New England Patriots
• Arizona Cardinals
• Los Angeles Chargers
• New York Giants
• Tennessee Titans
• Atlanta Falcons
• Chicago Bears
• New York Jets
• Minnesota Vikings
• Denver Broncos
• Las Vegas Raiders
• New Orleans Saints
• Indianapolis Colts
• Seattle Seahawks
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Los Angeles Rams
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Miami Dolphins
• Philadelphia Eagles
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High School Sports | Wild ending to baseball’s regular season, now…

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High School Sports

High school sports | wild ending to baseball’s regular season, now it’s time for cif-ss playoffs, baseball notes: the ending to the trinity league race was filled with surprises; now the focus shifts to the playoffs.

The final week of the high school baseball regular season was a dramatic one.

Now it’s on to the playoffs. The brackets for the eight CIF Southern Section playoff divisions will be released Monday at 10 a.m.

Some basics on the baseball playoffs: teams are automatic qualifiers for the playoffs if they finish among the top two teams in a four-team league, top three in five- and six-team leagues, and top four in seven- and eight-team leagues; teams can apply for an at-large berth if their overall record is .500 or better; teams were slotted into playoff divisions before the season began.

So with that in mind and reviewing the final week …

The Trinity League had an interesting Thursday, the final day of the regular season for that elite six-team group.

Santa Margarita needed to beat Mater Dei and have Orange Lutheran lose to St. John Bosco for the Eagles to tie Orange Lutheran for the league championship. Orange Lutheran did lose to St. John Bosco 8-2. The Eagles had beaten Mater Dei in their first two matchups of the week, but lost to the Monarchs 6-3 on Thursday, so Orange Lutheran finished in first place with an 11-4 league record and Santa Margarita was second at 10-5.

Servite beat JSerra 9-2 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep of the Lions. JSerra, which won a second straight CIF-SS championship last year, finished third to earn the league’s final guaranteed playoff berth.

St. John Bosco and Servite finished 6-9 each in league, with Mater Dei sixth at 5-10. All three of those teams are eligible for at-large berths.

Mater Dei won the statewide Boras Classic tournament, which annually is among the top regular-season tournaments in California. It says something about the quality of the Trinity League that the Boras Classic champion finished last in the league.

Mater Dei probably is going to be in the Division 1 playoffs. Division 1 has 35 teams and it will have a 32-team playoff bracket. Three teams – Capistrano Valley, Crespi and Etiwanda – are not automatic qualifiers and lack the .500 record to be at-large candidates. So Mater Dei is in a great position to be included.

El Dorado finished fourth in the four-team Crestview League. With its 14-14 overall record, El Dorado could be a Division 1 at-large team.

Servite has some competition for an at-large berth in Division 2, including Crean Lutheran. Crean Lutheran, a CIF-SS Division 4 finalist last year, finished fourth in the six-team Empire League and is 14-12 overall.

AROUND THE COUNTY

Canyon, the CIF-SS Division 4 champion last year , and Yorba Linda are North Hills League co-champions. Both are Division 2 teams this season. Because they are in the same division, Canyon goes into the playoffs as the North Hill League’s No. 1 playoff representative and Yorba Linda is No. 2 because Canyon beat Yorba Linda in two of their three league games. That designation is important because a No. 1 team is going to get a first-round home game in the playoffs and the No. 2 team might open the playoffs with an away game. …

Aliso Niguel is one of the hotter teams going into the playoffs. The Wolverines, last season’s CIF-SS Division 3 champions , have won six in a row, including a two-game sweep of San Juan Hills two weeks ago. Aliso Niguel, a Division 2 team, is Sea View League co-champion with San Juan Hills, which is a Division 4 team. …

Huntington Beach won the Surf League championship with its 7-2 league record and is off to the Division 1 playoffs. Fountain Valley finished second and will play in Division 3. Third-place Los Alamitos, with its 20-6 overall record, is in the running for a Division 3 at-large berth if the division does not have 32 automatic qualifiers. …

Capistrano Valley Christian won the San Joaquin League championship by beating Pacifica Christian 4-0 in a league tournament championship game. The Eagles have won 14 consecutive league championships. If assigned a home game in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs, they play at Windrow Park. …

Costa Mesa won its first league championship since 2009. The Mustangs finished 11-1 in the Orange Coast League, one game ahead of Estancia. …

Century and Savanna tied for the Orange League championship with 8-1-1 league records. Anaheim finished third. Savanna went 10-0 in the league last year. …

Calvary Chapel and Santa Ana tied for third place in the Orange Coast League with 6-6 league records. They split their two league games against each other. As a seven-team league the Orange Coast League’s top four finishers get guaranteed playoff berths, so Calvary Chapel can go into Division 5 as a No. 3 team and Santa Ana can also be a No. 3 in Division 7.

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Lasers, Inflatable Dancers and the Fight to Fend Off Avian Flu

Some poultry growers are turning to innovative tactics to protect their flocks, deploying deterrents like drones, air horns, balloons and decoy predators.

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By Linda Qiu

Reporting from Washington

Loren Brey, a poultry grower in Minnesota, walked onto the farm where his egg-laying turkeys nest in November to discover a handful of hens, dead from the highly pathogenic avian flu.

Within a week, he lost nearly half of his entire flock.

So when Mr. Brey’s turkeys began producing eggs again in the spring, he gave a seemingly unconventional prevention method a go: lasers installed atop his barns, firing beams of green light to fend off wild ducks, owls and other possible carriers of the deadly virus.

As migratory birds fly north for the spring, poultry farmers and backyard keepers across the country are bracing for yet another outbreak of avian flu. Although the most recent strain has felled only a small portion of the nearly 10 billion chickens, turkeys, ducks and other birds sold across the country each year, some poultry growers like Mr. Brey are turning to innovative tactics to protect their flocks, deploying deterrents like drones, air horns, balloons and decoy predators.

The practices underline the scramble by smaller farms and even some larger-scale operations to ward off the virus, as well as the fatigue, and begrudging acceptance, of the illness after years of sanitation protocols, lockdowns and debates over vaccination.

The most affected appear to be large-scale industrial farms and those raising egg-producing chickens: two-thirds of the depopulated birds belong to just 30 farms with one million or more egg-laying hens. Turkey operations, like Mr. Brey’s, have also been hit hard, representing 350 of the 481 commercial farms with detected cases. The birds are particularly susceptible to infection, and are more exposed to the virus because many turkey farms sit within the migratory path for many wild waterfowl, said Dr. Carol Cardona, an expert in avian health at the University of Minnesota.

An infection carries vast consequences.

Under federal policy , one infected bird can necessitate the culling or elimination of an entire flock, and then disposing of the carcasses through composting, burial, incineration or rendering. The regulation has resulted in 90 million dead birds and more than 1,100 affected flocks across the country since February 2022, when the strain, the most lethal yet in the United States, was first detected.

Because areas where infected birds once lived must be disinfected and quarantined, and repopulating a flock takes time, production can be halted for months. As a result, the total number of egg-laying hens has declined by about seven million from 2021 to 2023 , producing a billion fewer eggs a year — and contributing to spikes in cost .

Christian Alexandre, 32, who raises egg-laying chickens on 300 acres of grassland nestled between coastal redwoods and the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City, Calif., said it took half a year before production capacity was fully restored after bird flu was detected in late 2022.

“The toughest part for farmers is losing the birds, for sure. And then losing the work for your employees and not being able to supply your customers,” he said, adding that depopulating and composting the bodies afterward was traumatic.

Mr. Alexandre collects eggs by hand from mobile coops with no doors and no floors to ensure the birds full access to the outdoors. Rather than restocking with newly hatched chicks and waiting months for them to grow, he instead bought “spent” brown, organic hens, or layers that have reached the peak of their egg-producing days. Nearly 3 years old, the birds lay fewer eggs per day than younger hens, but Mr. Alexandre’s farm is back to full capacity, producing 10,000 to 12,000 eggs a day.

To prevent another outbreak, Mr. Alexandre now limits farm tours and sanitizes thoroughly, but he vowed to stick to his convictions. As president of the American Pastured Poultry Association, he said he was aware of only a handful of cases among his membership of 1,100 farmers. “Am I afraid of getting it again? Not enough to lock my birds inside,” he said.

Mr. Alexandre also tried installing lasers on his farm. But after a while, starlings began learning the lasers’ patterns and no longer feared the lightsaber-like beams.

Acknowledging that the deterrents were not foolproof, Craig Duhr, a sales manager for the Bird Control Group, which makes the lasers, said demand ticked up every time there was an outbreak. Dairy farmers, he said, were now seeking to install the system, which start at $12,500 per unit, since the disease was detected in cows last month .

Other safeguards that farmers have turned to in a bid to ward off potentially deadly carriers, according to Dr. Cardona: netting, noise machines and inflatable dancers. “Scary man, you know, the dudes that blow up,” she said. But she emphasized that the seasonality and evolving nature of the virus meant that farmers should regularly enhance safety measures.

“It’s like sprints, like reps. You do a sprint. And then you rest. Then you sprint again,” Dr. Cardona said. “You use that rest time to build your resiliency and make sure you’re ready for the next season. And then you hope and pray.”

To build that resiliency, experts and officials recommend following certain protocols: minimizing visitors, cleaning and disinfecting vigorously, keeping water and feed away from wild birds and mammals, and isolating newly purchased birds or those returning from crowds, among others.

Still, the avian flu can sneak into the most stringently locked-down coops. Mr. Brey, for one, has a designated parking spot for anyone coming in contact with his turkeys, Danish entry systems where people can clean and disinfect themselves and filtered air inlets.

“You can tighten and tighten up your biosecurity until you’re blue in the face. Like, what time is it now? Three o’clock? I’m on my eighth shower today already,” said Mr. Brey, who has been raising birds for three decades.

That constant vigilance has strained the patience of some poultry farmers.

Samantha Gasson, who raises 2,000 broiler chickens — those grown for meat — and 400 turkeys on pasture in North Carolina, has followed standard protocols and flies drones to stave off vultures, which can carry the virus and circle her lambs and cows.

But after years of worrying about the virus, she has now learned to cope with it, comparing her response to burnout from the pandemic.

“With Covid, in the beginning, I was definitely one of those people who masked up and gave everybody 20 feet,” said Ms. Gasson, who works for an animal welfare and food safety nonprofit. “And with the flu, it was the same thing. In that first year, I definitely lost sleep over it. Since then, it’s just like OK, it’s a part of life.”

Rachael Arestad used to scan the federal case tracker that monitors the spread of avian flu almost daily when the current strain confined her 18 chickens inside their pink, home-built coop in her backyard in rural Connecticut.

Two years in, her watchfulness has waned. Ms. Arestad will still periodically check to see if the virus has been detected close by, avoid dog parks covered in geese droppings and tie balloons in her yard to scare off foxes, which may bring the virus or attack her birds. But the thought of keeping her chickens, whom she considers pets, in perpetual lockdown is unappealing.

“I just hope at some point in the future, they’ll offer a vaccine for backyard chicken people,” she said. “We’re not selling our chickens overseas, right? We just want to see happy, healthy flocks.”

Mr. Brey, who also serves as the president of the Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council, sounded a note of resignation when it came to properly warding off the bird flu.

“You lay awake in bed for days and days, like, how in the world?” he added. “How, how, what should I do different? I don’t know that answer.”

Linda Qiu is a reporter who specializes in fact-checking statements made by politicians and public figures. She has been reporting and fact-checking public figures for nearly a decade. More about Linda Qiu

Minnesota Wild Insider: Time to prove to Kirill Kaprizov that winning is within reach

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The clock is ticking.

After a tough first two months of the season in which he scored two even-strength goals in his first 20 games, the Minnesota Wild ’s Kirill Kaprizov had a spectacular second half, finishing with 46 goals — one shy of his career high — and 96 points.

But his output was wasted on a team that failed to make the playoffs.

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President of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin pointed out that Kaprizov tried to “put the team on his back” down the stretch when the Russian superstar had 20 goals in his final 21 games.

But you could tell how much it pained Kaprizov, who turns 27 on Friday, to not be in the postseason. When asked if he was happy with his season, he simply said no.

Why? Because winning, the playoffs … that’s what drives him.

And that’s what makes next season such a pivotal one for the Wild, to give Kaprizov hope that he can be part of a contender. He’s eligible to sign an extension on July 1, 2025, one year ahead of unrestricted free agency, and the Wild have yet to put together a supporting cast that has gotten them past the first round in Kaprizov’s tenure.

As owner Craig Leipold said candidly before the season, Kaprizov, who has completely rewritten the Wild’s record book, is a big part of their future, “but only if he stays here.”

“I would be lying to you if it’s not on our minds,” Leipold said last fall .

Kaprizov, in the prime of his career, has every right to determine whether this is where he can win.

“That’s what I love about (Kaprizov) is that he wants to win,” Guerin said after conducting exit meetings with his players Friday. “When you have star players, I think you have to show them how committed you are as well. That doesn’t always mean in their personal situation, their contract or their stats or whatever. It’s about the team. It’s about the surroundings.

“Kirill wants to win. I know that. And yeah, I do feel that we need to show him that we’re committed to winning. I know he likes it here. I know he’s enjoyed playing here. I know he’s had success playing here. But you know, we can get better. And I think we can continue to surround him and keep building to surround him with a better team.”

You can’t blame Leipold, Guerin and fans for already fretting. Beyond the fact that it took this organization 20 years to unearth a bona fide superstar, it also took this franchise five years after drafting Kaprizov to get him to come over from Russia. It also was quite the contract battle to re-sign him to his current five-year, $45 million contract after he won the Calder Trophy in 2021.

So nothing has ever been simple when signing Kaprizov.

Kaprizov isn’t sure about his offseason plans yet, whether he’s staying stateside to train or returning to Russia. Remember, he spent the entire offseason in Minnesota and Florida last summer because he had so much difficulty getting back to the United States two summers ago.

He’s healthy, which is good news. When asked what needs to change for the team, Kaprizov brought up injuries to key players like Jared Spurgeon , Marcus Foligno , Jonas Brodin and himself.

It’s clear Kaprizov wasn’t 100 percent at the start of the season, stemming from his hamstring injury last spring. Then he sustained a rib injury in Winnipeg on Dec. 30 that removed him from the Wild’s lineup at the worst time — right when they got back into a playoff spot and before integral games inside the division.

Once he returned, he scored 33 goals and 62 points in 41 games — a season pace of 66 goals and 124 points. From Jan. 13 on, Kaprizov’s 33 goals were second in the NHL and his 62 points were tied for second.

Kaprizov said he hopes the Wild learn from their mistakes this season, but, “I hope we’re all healthy next year and just try playing our hockey, that’s it.”

He had to carry the team offensively; Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy were pretty much a one-line team in the second half.

But it wasn’t a burden to Kaprizov.

“No, I don’t feel like this,” Kaprizov said. “You mean pressure, like bad pressure? No, I think everyone (wants) for me goals, and I know this, and it’s like normal for me. I need to score goals. Every guy knows his position. My position is to score goals, help the team win games. It’s no pressure. It’s just good pressure. It helps me to be better at hockey.”

"My position is to score goals to help the team win games." 🗣️ Kirill on understanding the expectations of him on this team. #mnwild pic.twitter.com/aXMEy4iWV5 — Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 19, 2024

It was asked on Friday, how does Kaprizov feel about the future of this team? Does this team have a chance to compete in the playoffs?

“I think a lot of guys stay a long time in this team and we know each other,” Kaprizov said. “When I came here, more than half the team played the last four years here. Same guys. We know each other and I don’t like (to) say what had happened where. I like just (focusing) on now. I feel we have a lot of good players on the team. We always have a chance to win games and go in playoffs, fighting there.”

Kaprizov was given an “A” on his sweater before this past season, a sign of his growing leadership role on the team. The Wild also wanted to give him some ownership. But he can’t do it alone, and teammates realize it’s on them to support him.

“That’s a guy we obviously want to keep happy and make sure that he’s feeling comfortable here and knowing that it’s a team that can get the job done,” Foligno said. “He’s such a huge piece of this team and you need superstars to win you games and to pull you out of holes.

“But at the end of the day, he wants to win a championship. So do we all, so not getting anything done, especially this year, I’m sure he’s very frustrated. I know he takes pride in points and scoring, but he wants to win at the end of the day. That’s what makes him so great, so likable as a teammate. We’ve got to make sure that we’re supporting a player like that.

“Every team has a superstar on their team, but this guy’s different. He’s built for playoff hockey. He’s built to win championships. I think we’re going to see more of that from Kirill next year and moving forward. You want to see the rest of us be a better supporting cast for him.”

Hynes was impressed with Kaprizov’s combination of talent, competitiveness and love for the game, which can be contagious. He treats pregame skates like normal practices. Even in Games 81 and 82, with nothing to play for, Kaprizov acted like they were playoff games. He was the hardest worker on the ice, especially in L.A., where he was dynamic every shift.

“Every day, he drives the team that way, but the combination of his skill set and how hard he competes, that’s rare to find,” Hynes said. “A player that skilled, that talented, that has that competitive edge to his game, it’s been really impressive.”

The question is: If the Wild end their season in mid-April next season, without the playoffs, will that impact Kaprizov’s thinking on his future with the team?

He had no interest in hypotheticals.

“I don’t know. We’ll see what happens next year,” Kaprizov said. “I can’t say if we don’t make playoffs. I hope we make playoffs next year.”

Faber hopes for big sophomore encore

Brock Faber ’s summer will still be a busy one.

While Faber won’t play in May’s world championships as he allows his broken ribs to heal, he’s excited to potentially attend the June 27 NHL Awards in Vegas and walk the red carpet as one of the expected Calder Trophy finalists.

“It’d be awesome,” he said.

Faber plans to have a full summer of training to follow up his terrific rookie season. That’ll be important, as Guerin noted, especially with the former University of Minnesota captain expected to sign a long-term extension in the range of a $9 million average annual value.

“The goal is to become one of the best defensemen in the league,” Faber said. “I’m confident in myself, the way I train and the way I look at the game. The person I am, just try my best this offseason to keep growing. I think the offensive side of my game and again, an 82-game season isn’t something I’m quite used to and obviously hopefully playoffs next year. So even more than that. I’ll just do what I can to get my body ready. Keep getting bigger, stronger, faster, and you know, try to touch up the offensive side of my game to keep growing.”

Faber said the biggest thing he learned as a rookie was how to find consistency, knowing it was a “whole new beast” defending the likes of Connor McDavid , Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews .

“I have a lot to improve on,” he said.

"I have a lot to improve on and build in my own game." 🗣️ Fabes talks about his first year in the NHL and what he's looking for from his own game moving forward. #mnwild pic.twitter.com/J5Q9k47WyY — Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 19, 2024

Faber racked up 47 points this season (eight goals), playing the power play for pretty much the first time after Hynes took over. In doing so, he gained some confidence and raised the ceiling for what he thought he could produce offensively in the NHL.

“I kind of got a taste of being on the power play — that’s something I’ve never done before in my life,” he said. “Once you get there, you get more confident. I’m still uncomfortable in some situations, and I still feel like I obviously need to improve in a lot of situations. I think just being able to get a taste of that has definitely allowed me to build on the side of my game I didn’t quite know I had really. It gives me tons of confidence going into the offseason for what I can do offensively. Not points-wise, just playmaking ability.”

The irony is we may not know how much responsibility Faber could have taken in his rookie year had Spurgeon not been limited to 16 games. Faber was thrust into No. 1 defenseman duty in every facet.

“From just training with him (last) summer, you knew he has something special — just watching him mature throughout the year,” Spurgeon said. “He’s already a mature man. He plays the game at such a high level. His skating is awesome. It’s one of his main talents that lets him play the way he does. But just the confidence he had to go from a guy who had never quarterbacked a power play and then to see how calmly he went into that position, and then that offensive side that I think we could all see, whether it was during summer skates or his flashes come out — it was awesome to see from a teammate’s perspective.”

Big summer for Zuccarello

Zuccarello is missing the playoffs for only the second time in his career and called it “an empty feeling.”

“What to do now, who’s going to tell us what to do every day and it’s not a good feeling, but sometimes good things happen after something bad happens,” he said. “So hopefully next year’s going to be way better. But I don’t think anyone enjoys this feeling. Even you guys, what are you going to do?”

It’ll be a big summer for Zuccarello, 36, as he’ll represent Norway in the World Championship and then an Olympic qualifier in late August in Denmark. If Norway wins its group, it’ll take part in the 2026 Winter Games. Zuccarello joked that he hopes it’s his last time playing in the worlds because he doesn’t enjoy missing the playoffs.

Zuccarello says this is an “empty feeling,” like “what do you do now?” He’ll play in the worlds “if I make the team” with Norway. 😀 Big summer for his country as they attempt in late August to qualify for the 2026 Olympics pic.twitter.com/TNPoTGyuJF — Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 19, 2024

Zuccarello got off to a solid start this past season, but all this skating, especially in August and early September, could help him because it’s hard to find ice in Norway in the summertime. Zuccarello will also hold his annual charity game in August in Lillehammer as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Olympics held there. The Norwegian League All-Star team will play his All-Star team made up of NHLers, including some Wild teammates.

It’ll be interesting to watch Zuccarello’s five-on-five play next season because he didn’t produce well when separated from Kaprizov.

Thirty-three of his 63 points this season came on the power play.

At five-on-five, Zuccarello scored six goals and 22 assists. Twenty-one of those 28 five-on-five points came with Kaprizov on the ice in 497 minutes, 37 seconds together. But without Kaprizov, in 439 minutes of five-on-five play, Zuccarello scored just two goals and five assists.

Still, Zuccarello doesn’t blame Hynes for keeping him apart from Kaprizov after the Kaprizov-Eriksson Ek-Boldy line erupted.

“We got a really good first line,” Zuccarello, who snapped a 20-game goal drought in the season finale, said. “Played well for a lot of this final stretch here. That’s just how it goes. In terms of my play, it’s probably, I don’t even know which season it is, if it’s 14 or 15, (every year) I tell myself I need to shoot more. So maybe the 16th season I’ll maybe shoot a little bit more sometimes.

“I mean a little too on and off for me as well. Some good stretches kind of following the team a little bit. So hopefully next year a little bit more consistent and maybe score a couple more goals to help the team win some games that we lost this year.”

(Photo of Kirill Kaprizov: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

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Steelers Draft N.C. State LB Payton Wilson

The Pittsburgh Steelers add their first defensive player in the 2024 NFL Draft.

• Author: Noah Strackbein
• Publish date: Apr 27, 2024

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are adding their first defensive player of the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson with their first third-round pick, No. 84 overall.

The Steelers added three offensive players to start the draft, selecting Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, West Virginia center Zach Frazier and Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson. They'll now head to the other side of the ball, with the addition of an inside linebacker.

Wilson is a 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker who ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. During his time at NC State, he recorded 402 tackles, 48 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, seven interceptions, 13 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

Wilson comes to Pittsburgh with an opportunity to earn instant playing time. Despite the addition of Patrick Queen in free agency, the team has no timeline on the return of Cole Holcomb. Wilson will head to training camp with a shot to compete for playing time with Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson.

The Steelers will head into Day 3 of the NFL Draft with one fourth-round pick (No. 119) and two sixth-round picks (No. 178 and 195).

Make sure you bookmark All Steelers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Wild horses to remain in North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, lawmaker says

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Wild horses will stay in North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park amid fears from advocates that park officials would remove the beloved animals from the rugged badlands landscape, a key lawmaker said Thursday.

Republican U.S. Sen. John Hoeven said he has secured a commitment from the National Park Service to maintain wild horses in the park, though the number remains to be determined. Roughly 200 horses now roam the park.

Hoeven said the Park Service will abandon its proposed removal of the horses under an environmental review process begun in 2022 and will continue to operate under an existing 1978 environmental assessment that calls for a reduction in their numbers.

“They’ve committed to me that we will have a thoughtful and inclusive discussion on how many horses they keep in the park,” Hoeven told The Associated Press. There is no timeline on that, he said.

World & Nation

Decision on the future of wild horses in a North Dakota national park expected next year

Advocates fear a predetermined outcome that will remove the beloved animals from Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Nov. 23, 2023

In a statement, the park said its decision to terminate the review “was made after careful consideration of the information and public comment received during the (environmental assessment) process.” In a text message, park officials acknowledged an email seeking comment but didn’t immediately provide one.

Park visitors, much to their delight, often encounter the horses while driving or hiking in the rolling, colorful badlands where a young, future President Theodore Roosevelt hunted and engaged in cattle ranching in the 1880s in what was then Dakota Territory.

“People love horses,” Hoeven said. “And where do you go to see wild horses? I mean, it’s not like an easy thing to do, and most people don’t have horses, and they love the idea of wild horses. They see it as part of our heritage in America.”

Earlier Thursday, Hoeven’s office said in a statement the decision “will allow for a healthy herd of wild horses to be maintained at the park, managed in a way to support genetic diversity among the herd and preserve the park’s natural resources.”

The horses roam the park’s South Unit near the western tourist town of Medora. In 2022, park officials began the process of crafting a “livestock plan” for the horses as well as about nine longhorn cattle in the park’s North Unit near Watford City. Park officials have said that process aligned with policies to remove non-native species when they pose a potential risk to resources.

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“The horse herd in the South Unit, particularly at higher herd sizes, has the potential to damage fences used for wildlife management, trample or overgraze vegetation used by native wildlife species, contribute to erosion and soil-related impacts ... and compete for food and water resources,” according to a Park Service environmental assessment from September 2023.

Proposals included removing the horses quickly or gradually or taking no action. Park Superintendent Angie Richman has said the horses, even if they ultimately stay, would still have to be reduced to 35 to 60 animals under the 1978 environmental assessment. The park will continue to manage the longhorns as done previously, according to Hoeven’s office.

Thousands of people made public comments during the Park Service review, the vast majority of them in support of keeping the horses. North Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature made its support official in a resolution last year. Gov. Doug Burgum offered state help to maintain the horses.

The Park Service reached out to the five tribal nations in North Dakota to find out if the tribes want to be involved in managing the horses, Hoeven said. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe indicated interest, he said.

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The senator’s announcement comes after Congress passed and President Biden recently signed an appropriations bill with a provision from Hoeven strongly recommending the Park Service maintain the horses. The legislation signaled that funding to remove the horses might be denied.

Chris Kman, president of Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates, said she was in tears when she read Hoeven’s announcement. She said she plans to pursue federal protection for the horses and explore potential state legislation.

“If they don’t have federal protection, then they’re at the mercy of the next administration that comes in or whatever policy they want to pull out and cite next time and try to get rid of the horses again,” Kman said by phone from the park.

The horses descend from those of Native American tribes and area ranches and from domestic stallions introduced to the park in the late 20th century, according to Castle McLaughlin, who researched the horses as a graduate student while working for the Park Service in North Dakota in the 1980s.

Dura writes for the Associated Press.

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