Montana HB132 threatens future of wild bison. Request Governor’s veto.

Montana HB132 threatens future of wild bison. Request Governor’s veto.

The Montana legislature, largely on party-line votes, has passed a stealth attack on any future that public, wild bison may have in our state. Ostensibly to simply redefine “wild bison” in Montana law, the bill would disqualify most, perhaps all, possible sources of bison for transplanting within or into Montana.

The following are excerpts from Doug Coffman, Supporter of our Coalition, in a message to Governor Bullock:

“HB132 has not been promoted to solve any problem, nor has legislative testimony described any purpose for HB132. Apparently, HB132 has no purpose but to obstruct or preclude any attempt to reestablish wild bison in Montana. HB132 has no basis in biology: previous ownership of bison, or payment of the livestock tax, in no way preclude bison from becoming reestablished as wildlife. In my opinion, therefore, HB132 is nothing more than a hastily-drawn, politically-transparent ploy to block the biological future of one of this country’s most important charismatic wild animals.”

“Despite polls showing that 70% of Montana voters support restoration of public, wild bison on some of our public lands – and especially on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge – there are currently no wild bison year-round in Montana, nor have there been for nearly 140 years. Although bison once were a ‘lynchpin’ of the mixed-grass prairie ecosystem over all of central and eastern Montana, this keystone of the prairies survives today only by virtue of the care and hard work of countless people a century ago.”

“Early in the 20^th century, as the extinction of American bison appeared imminent, men such as William T. Hornaday and then-president Theodore Roosevelt formed the American Bison Society – whose sole mission was to bring back bison from the brink, and to establish a series of federal bison reserves across the western USA. Thanks to legislative success of ABS, and to substantial public and state funding, the wild gene pool was saved. It is regrettable, but despite the financial generosity of many western states in support of this mission of ABS in 1905, funding from the great state of Montana was zero. Perhaps it is time for Montana to make amends for this historic lack of will.”

“Montana is perhaps the only state with sufficient native prairie where true recovery of wild bison can still occur. But HB132 is one more roadblock to recovery, at least in its intent. Given the critical need to maintain and increase the wild gene pool of plains bison in order to secure its survival, it would be most unfortunate if we allowed the return of this species to be thwarted by legislation having no basis in biological reality.”

“I believe that Montana should now begin to atone for its historic lapse in behalf of preserving American bison – our national mammal – and prevent political sabotage of its future as wildlife. I urge you, Governor Bullock, to veto HB132.”

Doug Coffman is author of Reflecting the Sublime: The Rebirth of an American Icon, describing the history of the “Hornaday bison group”, specimens displayed in the Smithsonian Museum during 1888-1957 and now at the Fort Benton Museum. (2013, available from riverplains@mtintouch.net).

The Montana Wild Bison Coalition requests additional lobbying of Governor Bullock to veto HB132. Send your message to governor@mt.gov, or call (406) 444-3111.