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 20th
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.
