MT Gov. Greg Gianforte sues to block Yellowstone’s bison management plan

[KARAH RUCKER]

MONTANA GOVERNOR GREG GIANFORTE [JAUHN-FOR-TAY] AND A PAIR OF STATE AGENCIES ARE SUING TO HALT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK’S BISON MANAGEMENT PLAN.

THE LAWSUIT FILED THIS WEEK BY THE GOVERNOR, MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK AND DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS, NAMES THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND THEIR LEADERS, INCLUDING YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK SUPERINTENDENT CAM SHOLLY, AS DEFENDANTS. 

STATE OFFICIALS ARGUE THE NEW RULES HURT MONTANTA’S ABILITY TO HANDLE THREATS BROUGHT ON BY BISON WANDERING BEYOND THE PARK AND SAY THEY WERE NEVER GIVEN A FAIR CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.

GIANFORTE SAYING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE “FAILED” TO WORK WITH MONTANA IN “A MEANINGFUL AND TRANSPARENT” WAY “REQUIRED BY LAW.”

THEY CONTEND THE REVIEW PROCESS WAS HURRIED AND LEFT THE STATE WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE TIMEFRAME TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THE NEW RULES.

YELLOWSTONE SAYS THE NEW PLAN ADOPTED IN JULY ALLOWS IT TO ADDRESS

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION THAT’S CHANGED SINCE THE LAST PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2000.

THE NEW MEASURES CALL FOR THE PARK’S BISON HERD TO REMAIN BETWEEN 35-HUNDRED AND SIX-THOUSAND ANIMALS. 

STATE LEADERS IMMEDITATELY CRITICIZED THE PLAN.

SAYING THEY WANT THE HERD MANAGED AT AROUND THREE-THOUSAND BISON, THE NUMBER SET UNDER THE 2000 PLAN.

IN ITS LAWSUIT, THE STATE AND GIANFORTE NOTE, THE LARGER BISON HERD THREATENS MONTANA’S CATTLE THROUGH THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

THE COURT FILINGS ALSO NOTE, STATE OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE LARGER HERD WILL DAMAGE THE LANDSCAPE OF YELLOWSTONE’S NORTHERN RANGE.

AS WE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, CONSERVATIONISTS HAVE ARGUED AGAINST LIMITING THE HERD OF BISON TO THREE-THOUSAND AND CLAIM STATE LEADERS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THE SPECIES.

NOTING, IN 2023, A RECORD-SHATTERING NUMBER OF NEARLY 16-HUNDRED BISON WERE KILLED IN MONTANA.

[TOM WOODBURY]

THE STATE OF MONTANA DOES NOT CONSIDER OUR NATIONAL MAMMAL TO BE A WILDLIFE SPECIES. THEY CONSIDER BUFFALO TO BE A DISEASED SPECIES IN NEED OF MANAGEMENT.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE CONTROVERSIAL MASS SLAUGHTER WAS MAINLY FROM HUNTERS AMONG INDIGENOUS TRIBES, WHO HAVE THE RIGHT TO HUNT BISON UNDER HISTORIC TREATIES AND FACE LITTLE TO NO REGULATIONS.

[MORGAN JACOBSEN]

THE STATE OF MONTANA DOESN’T REGULATE THE AMOUNT OF BISON TRIBAL LEADERS CAN HARVEST OR WHAT THEIR SEASON DATES ARE, THINGS LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE LARGELY DETERMINE BY EACH INDIVIDUAL TRIBE

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE 2023 KILLINGS ALSO RAISED CONCERNS AMONG CONSERVATIONISTS WHO THEN SAID THE GOVERNOR’S CALL FOR A HERD OF THREE THOUSAND WAS UNREALISTIC.

[TOM WOODBURY]

“MONTANA WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BISON POPULATION REDUCED TO 3,000, WHICH IS NOT A VIABLE POPULATION OF BISON AND WOULD RESULT IN THEM BEING LISTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

YELLOWSTONE OFFICIALS SAY THEY’RE REVIEWING THE LAWSUIT AND ARE CONSIDERING THEIR NEXT STEPS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.