On February 24th, the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, along with several conservation groups, filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit against Yellowstone National Park’s bison management plan. The legal action, initiated by the state of Montana in December, challenges the park’s 2024 strategy, which allows an average bison population of about 5,000 and emphasizes transferring disease-free bison to tribal lands. The intervenors, including Defenders of Wildlife, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, and Park County Environmental Council, aim to defend the plan’s science-based approach.
The Yellowstone plan, finalized last year, sets a population range of 3,500 to 6,000 bison and supports ecological balance, tribal hunting rights, and the Bison Conservation Transfer Program. This program has moved over 400 brucellosis-free bison to 26 Tribes, with Fort Peck operating the only approved testing facility for post-quarantine bison. Montana’s lawsuit seeks to revert to older policies, potentially halving the herd and limiting transfers by increasing shipments to slaughter. The intervenors argue this would harm cultural restoration efforts and the park’s ecosystem.
Karrie Kahle of Park County Environmental Council highlighted the plan’s balance, noting the group’s close ties to bison in the region. Scott Christensen from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition pointed out the economic boost from bison-related tourism, generating $5.4 billion annually in Montana. Chamois Andersen of Defenders of Wildlife emphasized the cultural significance of bison to Indigenous communities, while Michelle Uberuaga of the National Parks Conservation Association stressed decades of collaboration behind the plan. Montana, despite being involved throughout the process and offered a chance to draft an alternative in April 2022, claims it was sidelined.
Earthjustice, representing the intervenors, calls the state’s suit a misuse of resources, arguing it threatens a plan shaped by extensive input. The filing underscores that no cases of brucellosis transmission from bison to cattle have been recorded, countering a key state concern. The intervenors aim to uphold a strategy they see as vital for bison conservation, tribal heritage, and local economies.
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