As
noted earlier, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has solicited
site-specific proposals for bison restoration and conservation in our
state. Regrettably, our appeals to other major wildlife conservation
groups to work jointly in preparing a proposal for restoring public,
wild bison on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge were
declined or ignored. Therefore, we have produced a draft proposal to
develop a herd entirely within the UL Bend area of the Refuge, north
of Fort Peck Reservoir. The herd would be allowed to grow up to 400
animals, contained within about 150 square miles of diverse habitat.
In
the long term, 400 bison would not be a genetically adequate herd.
But we are proposing this as a “test project” in which bison
movements would be evaluated and FWP would test and demonstrate its
ability to fund and manage the herd. Conservative hunting strategies
would be tested after the herd reached 200 bison. Once the herd
reached 400 animals, perhaps in 10 years, all results would be
evaluated, with public input, and a decision on how to proceed would
occur.
Being
entirely within the CMR National Wildlife Refuge, with required
monitoring of bison health by the state veterinarian, the project is
intended to have no negative impacts on Montana ranchers.
However,
United Property Owners of Montana (UPOM) have sued FWP and the state,
claiming that the final impact statement and decision to solicit
site-specific proposals, for yet more analysis and public review, has
violated the Montana Environmental Protection Act. We believe the
arguments are invalid. But the wheels of justice almost always move
slowly, and this likely will stall efforts to restore a public, wild
bison herd in Montana for at least a year. Meanwhile, FWP is not
reviewing any submitted proposals.
Delay
will allow UPOM and the Montana livestock industry to solicit
legislation, in 2021, to forever prohibit any restoration of public,
wild bison in Montana. A new governor could sign such new
legislation, although it would be contrary to the Montana
Constitution and would void previous legislated guidelines for bison
restoration.
Most
Montanans have little or no awareness of this situation. It is urgent
to develop public recognition of the precarious status of bison
conservation in our state. The Montana Wild Bison Restoration
Coalition will do all it can in this regard. But there are many
distractions in the public media this year. We implore readers to
post bison information on personal websites and to promote forthright
public discussion, especially by national and state organizations
dedicated to wildlife conservation.
Jim Bailey
