New Administration Moving To Remove Bison From Montana Plains

Federal Plan To Remove Bison From Grazing Lands

A big public lands debate that’s now getting national attention is playing out right here in Montana, and it centers on a pretty iconic animal, the bison.

The current administration is moving forward with plans to remove hundreds of bison from federal grazing lands. These are the same lands that have been part of efforts to bring bison back to the plains they once roamed freely.

Livestock Grazing VS Bison Restoration Efforts

Like most issues like this, there are really two sides to the story, and it comes down to what these grazing lands are supposed to be used for.

On one side, federal officials and ranchers argue these lands are meant for traditional livestock use, meaning animals raised for food like cattle and sheep.

On the other side, conservation groups and tribal advocates say bison are native to these landscapes and can coexist with livestock and that efforts like those from American Prairie are about restoring the prairie to something closer to what it once was.

Bureau Of Land Management Cancels Grazing Permits

At the center of the dispute are fewer than 1,000 bison that have been grazing on land owned by American Prairie for nearly 20 years, with permission through multiple administrations, including the first Trump administration.

But this past winter, the Bureau of Land Management canceled those grazing permits, saying the land should be used for livestock that directly produce food, not just grazing herds.

And honestly, this goes way beyond grazing. It’s about power, money, and who ultimately gets to make those decisions on the land.

For a deeper dive into the story, you can check out the coverage from the New York Times.

"]