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Nearly two dozen ranchers whose cattle wandered into Valles Caldera National Preserve this year removed their cattle, either voluntarily or after being informed by certified letter that the National Park Service could impound the livestock.

With year-end right around the corner, I’ve been spending time looking back across the National Parks Traveler’s stories from 2023 to compile ourtop stories of the year – those that demonstrate the Traveler’s reach, impact, and close coverage of breaking news.

In an open-air barn in Texas Hill Country, a bull named Domino and a cow named Miss Battle patiently tolerate visitors transfixed by the fact the initials “LBJ” are branded on their right horns. Only their offspring, an unnamed calf born Sept. 23 and so far identified as 635, plays hard to get and dozes in the back of a stall.