There are already people criticizing the agreement, some saying this is too much access for bison, others saying it is not enough. This is to be expected. However, this is a great step toward managing wild bison as wildlife in Montana. It is also a step that was agreed to within the Interagency Bison Management Plan.
While certain groups believe that this will do nothing for re-establishing wild bison in Montana, the Montana Wildlife Federation believes that we need to consider all of the opportunities with a long range vision. This agreement does not end the bison debate nor will it resolve many of the related issues, however, Montanans have repeatedly called for wild bison to once again reside in Montana. The challenge has been to find suitable habitat for bison while minimizing contact with livestock during certain times of the year.
We expect there to be room for bison where populations can be restored on appropriate habitat. We expect the concerns of cattle producers and landowners to be addressed while we attempt to do something that Montana is known for worldwide n restoring and sustaining native wildlife. Securing the grazing rights on the Royal Teton Ranch is only a small part of this restoration effort.
For bison, securing the grazing rights for the RTR means that for the first time in our lives, some will be allowed to move outside of Yellowstone Park in winter without being sent to slaughter. The deal, many years in the making, has its critics but it also has a large number of supporters. We applaud the commitment to raise more than $1 million privately to help fund this easement.
Conservation advocates, whether they are hunters, hikers, wildlife enthusiasts or tourists, all share a common hope that one day wild bison will again be treated as wildlife in Montana. We can be proud that we’ve begun moving forward again-from a dead stop.
It’s time for the IBMP partners to start living up to their end of the bargain and treating bison as valued, native wildlife. For example, the capture facility on Horse Butte must be removed and not established again. No landowners on Horse Butte have cattle, at any time during the year, and local residents are calling for bison to remain on the peninsula. We believe strongly that within the adaptive management provisions of the IBMP, that this situation can be rectified in a manner that returns free-roaming bison to their rightful status as wildlife.
Without bold leadership that continues to move this issue forward, we will simply return to another winter of record slaughter. That should be unacceptable to everyone.
Thank you to all those for their hard work in making the RTR deal come to fruition.
Tim Aldrich is president of the Montana Wildlife Federation. He writes from Missoula.
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