Montana Wildlife Federation Says Governor’s Bison Plan Realistic - Stockgrower Groups Reject Progressive Management

June 22, 2006

Contacts:
Craig Sharpe, MWF Executive Director; 800-517-7256
Chris Marchion, MWF President; 497-3871

Helena—Montana Wildlife Federation applauds Gov. Schweitzer’s plan to manage bison outside of Yellowstone national Park as a realistic option to resolve the decades-old problem. At the same time, MWF strongly disagrees with the recent Montana Farm Bureau and the Montana Stockgrowers Association press release and study that are in opposition to the governor’s plan.

MWF believes the governor's plan is based on science, uses the time-tested North American model of wildlife management, through hunting, to control bison numbers and protects Montana’s livestock outside the park. “It’s obvious to anyone that has followed the Yellowstone bison issue that the current management plan is not working and we are pleased that Gov. Schweitzer has taken the initiative to work with both livestock and conservation groups to begin resolving this issue,” said MWF president Chris Marchion.

“ It’s really disconcerting that these groups are opposing this common sense plan. It’s the same old rhetoric we’Ave heard from these groups for over a decade now and it certainly hasn’t resolved the bison issue,” said Marchion. “There is little doubt in our minds that the governor, a cattle rancher himself, would propose a plan that would jeopardize Montana’s cattle industry. Sportsmen, too, want to ensure that any bison management plan does not put the cattle industry at risk from disease like brucellosis.”

The executive director of the Montana Farm Bureau in a recent newspaper article about the governor’s plan “called on the Park Service to manage Yellowstone ‘like a ranch. We want them to keep their animals inside the
ranch just like we do ours.’” MWF points out that bison in Yellowstone Park are a wildlife species that is treasured by the American public and is classified in Montana as wildlife, not a species that should be managed like domestic livestock.

“The wildlife in Yellowstone is free ranging and their future depends on their ability to move freely in and out of the park,” Marchion stated. “Evidently the Farm Bureau would also be happy to have elk, moose, and all
of Yellowstone’s other species contained like a zoo.”

The Federation also points out that the costs of about $1 million year to implement the current Interagency Bison Management Plan of testing, slaughter and hazing is being borne by the average taxpayer and the governor believes his plan can reduce this cost substantially.

“We believe the governor’s proposal will help resolve this ongoing controversy, and at the same time reduce the financial burden on the taxpayer; we believe that it should be given a chance to work,” said Marchion. “To continue on the same course we’ve used with no positive results just doesn’t make sense. It’s time for new approaches. Bison need to be managed as wildlife.”

Thank you for all you do for Montana's public lands, wildlife, and fair-chase hunting and fishing heritage.

Montana Wildlife Federation, with nearly 7,000 members, is the largest and oldest statewide nonprofit wildlife conservation organization of hunters and anglers who work to protect Montana's lands and waters and its hunting and fishing heritage.

To learn more about MWF, go to www.montanawildlife.com.

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