Exceptional Population Decline In Eastern Montana

 

 

 

EXCEPTIONAL POPULATION DECLINE IN EASTERN MONTANA

County-by-county population data were illustrated in a recent publication (Hjerpe et al. 2020. Amenity migration and public lands: Rise of the protected areas. Environ. Management 66:56-71). Note the spectacularly large area of contiguous counties in east and north-central Montana that has lost population during 1980-2010. Across 11 western states, only an area of population decline including arid central Wyoming is even half as large.

This population decline has continued since the 1930s. Today’s sparse populations and limited tax bases limit provision of public services including schools, health care and infrastructure, including roads and communication systems. Poverty

rates are relatively high. Existing services depend upon public subsidies. Occasional economic expansions with petroleum developments never lasted. Mostly ranching, and some farming, sustain these economies. Still, the rural lifestyles are preferred by many who live in the area.

A more diversified economy will be necessary to improve prosperity and self-sufficiency. Restoration of public-trust, wild bison on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge would contribute diversity to some county economies by expanding tourism and providing necessarily long hunting seasons with hunter expenses, including guiding, outfitting and carcass retrieval. And bison restoration on the Refuge need not threaten any rural lifestyles.

Thank you,

Jim Bailey, Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition

Open Letter to 2021 Montana Legislature

 

Thank you for your service in the Montana legislature. The 2021 legislative session will be unusually challenging, likely with COVID restrictions, and with many complex budget issues.

However, we are contacting you regarding an issue that is expected to receive less time and attention, yet has a degree of urgency. We expect one or more bills that may enhance, diminish, or even eliminate any future for restoring public trust, wild bison in our state. Past legislatures have produced some anti-bison bills that have required governors’ vetoes. Such bills may again be introduced.

In contrast, the Montana Constitution (Article IX) directs the legislature to provide adequate remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion of natural resources; to provide for restoration of historic, cultural and recreational objects for their use by the people; and to forever preserve the opportunity of individual citizens to harvest wild game animals. A recent legislature responded to these mandates by enacting MCA 87-1-216 with guidelines for restoring bison while protecting private property rights. Then, in an 11-year-long process with abundant public input, Fish, Wildlife & Parks released a programmatic environmental impact statement, concluding that management issues of bison restoration can be successfully addressed at a landscape scale. This EIS requested the public to submit site-specific proposals for bison restoration.

The Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition has submitted a proposal for a test restoration that would grow to 400 animals within the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. Three polls indicated that 70 percent of Montana voters favor this option. It is intended to have no negative effects on the Montana ranching industry. See our proposal elsewhere on this website.

In the 2019 legislature, bison restoration was a divisive partisan issue. This limited objective discussion and consideration of wild-bison opportunities for Montanans. It avoided misconceptions surrounding bison, and perpetuated a lack of awareness of MCA 87-1-216. In 2021, we encourage you to reject a divisive partisan approach and to encourage full and objective discussion of bison restoration among both legislators and the public.

 

Thank you,

Jim Bailey, Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition

 

National and Montana Wildlife Federations Rededicated to Bison Restoration

 

 

National and Montana Wildlife Federations Rededicated to Bison Restoration

Especially on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

The National Wildlife Federation and its affiliated Montana Wildlife Federation, with a panel discussion internet-broadcasted on October 18, restated their commitments to restoring public-trust, wild bison in Montana, noting that the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR) offers “a unique opportunity” among America’s public lands.

These organizations have quietly supported Montana bison restoration in recent years. Recent emphasis of the National Wildlife Federation has been for more bison herds on Native American reservations. Although the CMR is the largest federal refuge within the historic range of plains bison, but lacks this keystone native species, most national and state conservation organizations have been avoiding clear support for a CMR bison herd. Bison for the CMR has been carefully sidestepped to avoid confrontations with the public-lands livestock industry.

Panel member, Montana Senator Pat Flowers noted that bison restoration has been more challenging, politically and socially, than reintroduction of wolves or recovery of grizzly bears. Tom France, Regional Executive Director for NWF, described Montana bison restoration as a “matter of public will”. He and Flowers recommended bison restoration be accomplished “the Montana way” with lots of local public input. However, Flowers noted there is a lot of public misinformation to be dealt with, and France supported face-to-face discussions of the problems. Flowers noted that anti-bison legislation may again be introduced in the 2021 state legislative session, suggesting that cross-party support for bison could be developed with candid discussion of the issues.

Panel member Mary Zeiss Strange, bison rancher from southeast Montana described bison as remarkable animals. Frank Szolloci, Executive Director of MWF, recognized the Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition and indicated MWF would be preparing a framework document soon.

Strong support of NWF and MWF for bison on the CMR is a significant step forward. These organizations have resources and contacts to create needed discussion and progress. Since polls show that 70% of Montana voters support restoration of public-trust, wild bison on the CMR, other conservation organizations should follow their lead.

 

Thank you,

Jim Bailey, Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition