Bison Restoration Needs a Cooperative, Not Divisive, Solution

Potential abundant bison habitat on the CMR Refuge

 

The long-standing hope for restoring wild bison on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is generating an unusual amount of publicity. Unfortunately, the issue is becoming confounded and divisive, diminishing prospects for any solution. The Coalition suggests three foundations for a way forward.

First, bison for the CMR Refuge has to become a national issue. Montana will not participate in a reintroduction for the foreseeable future. The Department of Interior must restore bison to the Refuge unilaterally.

In 2021, the Montana legislature and Governor put a legal capstone on 110 years of Montana opposition to bison restoration in the state. Prohibiting bison restoration by the state will not be changed without voiding laws by a very different legislature and Governor. Promoting stakeholder support for bison in isolation from numerous other partisan political issues will not accomplish this change. It is time to recognize that many decades of Montana political opposition to bison will continue. This opposition has violated the Refuge obligation for federal/state cooperation that produces timely and effective management of the Refuge and justifies federal action on the Refuge without Montana support.

Second, we propose the issue of restoring wild bison be considered separately from the much larger issues of environmental justice and Native American reparations, including the “Land Back” movement. These larger issues are complex and involve alternative beliefs, perspectives and interpretations of history. Consensus on these issues may never occur, rendering bison restoration on the Refuge improbable.

We believe the issue of bison restoration should focus on but two issues: What are the values associated with Tribal-trust bison, and what are the values associated with public-trust bison on public lands; and how can we best achieve both these goals. This is the way forward for any foreseeable progress.

Third, achieving both these sets of goals and their respective values, should be a cooperative, not divisive process. Many Tribes seek access to bison and bison habitat for cultural, spiritual, nutritional and commercial values. The Coalition supports achievement of these values. In contrast, goals for public-trust bison on a federal Refuge, as stated in federal law, are biological diversity and integrity and recreational benefits for the general American public, including Native Americans. The two sets of goals are, in many ways, incompatible. But goals for Tribal-trust bison can be maximized on Tribal lands; goals for public-trust bison can be maximized, perhaps only, on National Parks and Refuges. Each side of this already divisive issue should act to promote achieving both sets of goals in this manner. We should focus on the goals, and how best to mutually achieve them.

Wild Bison Lose Two More Great Friends And A Supporting Organization

 

Joe Gutkowski

 

Recent months and an aging generation have produced sorrowful times for proponents of public-trust wild bison on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. Last year’s passing of Jim Posewitz foreshadowed an end to Montana’s prolonged efforts to restore a wild bison herd to the state. The 2021 legislature ignored Jim’s final advice, foreclosing all Montana efforts toward wild bison for the foreseeable future.

More recently, two more of our comrades, Joe Gutkowski of Montana and Valerius Geist of Canada, left us for the last time.

Joe Gutkowski passed at the age of 94. Beginning as a smoke-jumper and fire fighter, Joe had a long career with the U. S. Forest Service, always a spokesperson for forest management to benefit all the American people. Then, in a long retirement, Joe continued his conservation activities, particularly for wild rivers, wildlife, and especially bison restoration. Joe was an early advocate for the ambitious Big Open project, and was a strong supporter of the Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition. We, and the bison, miss Joe.

Valerius Geist was less well-known in Montana. Val was an artist, philosopher (lover of learning) and, above all, a biologist based in evolutionary biology. His interests, centered on large wild mammals of the Northern Hemisphere, generated about 20 books. These included Buffalo Nation: History and Legend of the North American Bison. He wrote: “Keeping bison in fenced spaces is a stop-gap conservation measure at best. Protected in enclosures, buffalo are inadvertently managed for tractability and they are on their way to domestication. This includes weakening or destroying their anti-predator abilities through genetic decay.” Val’s efforts to educate the public, and much of the profession of wildlife management, on the requisites for preserving wildness, have yet to be realized.

Also sadly, the Montana Sierra Club has decided to withdraw as a supporter of the Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition. The Club disagrees with our insistence, supported by federal law, that any bison restored to the Charles M. Russell Refuge must be public-trust bison for purposes of benefitting all the general American public. 

 

 

Coalition Supports Dual Approach To Federal Bison Restoration

 

 

The Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition has petitioned Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service to proceed on separate parallel paths for restoring bison on Native American lands and on federal lands, including the Charles M. Russell Refuge. Secretary Haaland oversees both the Fish & Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Following Montana’s most recent rejection of bison restoration by the legislature and governor (News 23 May), two competing proposals have arisen for federal restoration of bison on the Russell Refuge. A proposal supported by Native Americans would have Tribal-trust bison on the federal refuge, administered by an inter-tribal council and managed by Tribal biologists, with emphasis on bison for cultural, spiritual and nutritional needs of an unspecified number of Tribes. This proposal was developed largely with support of the National Wildlife Federation (News 19 June). Its application would compromise Congressional mandates for biological diversity and integrity on the Refuge.

Our Coalition preferred restoring public-trust bison on the Refuge, with benefits for all Americans, including Native Americans, as mandated by Congress (News 1 July). Competition between the two proposals has become divisive at a time when respectful teamwork and cooperation are much needed in American politics. We suggested that the Department of Interior initiate a dual-program of bison restoration to best fulfill the overlapping, but somewhat incompatible goals of these two proposals.

Tribal goals for bison management can best be fulfilled on Tribal lands, not through compromising statutory mandates on the Wildlife Refuge System. At least 69 Tribes in 19 states already have over 1500 square miles dedicated to bison herds. Department of Interior should continue to support expansion and management of bison herds in Indian Country. This proposal is outlined in House Bill 5153 that was introduced in 2019 by then Congresswoman Haaland. Much of it can be facilitated by administrative actions under existing law.

Along a parallel track, Department of Interior should accelerate achievement of already established federal goals for restoring public-trust bison, and securing the wild bison genotype, on National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. Restoration of bison on the Russell Refuge is the best opportunity to satisfy these goas south of Canada (News 1 July).