Tell Montana: Let Wild Buffalo Roam!

Support Year-Round Habitat for Wild Bison in Montana!

Public Comments are being accepted through August 24, 2012

Wild bison, or buffalo, are ecologically extinct in Montana and throughout their historic native range. The Yellowstone region is the last stronghold of the remaining 4,000 wild buffalo that exist today. Current government mismanagement of this iconic, noble animal severely and unjustly punishes them for following their migratory instincts that bring them across the man-made border from Yellowstone National Park into Montana. Thousands of wild buffalo have been senselessly killed and thousands more repeatedly harassed and abused by government agencies serving the interests of livestock producers. An opportunity has arisen that could help alleviate these barbaric actions for some wild buffalo.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Department of Livestock have initiated a scoping process for a proposal to allow "some" bison access to year-round habitat on "portions" of Gallatin National Forest in Montana's Hebgen and Gardiner Basins, west and north of Yellowstone National Park. These are the very places where wild buffalo currently attempt to roam and face conflict and death. Montana is leaning towards allowing only bull bison access to these important areas, while family groups with calves would continue to be abusively forced off of calving grounds each spring. All wild buffalo - not just bulls - are in dire need of year-round habitat outside of Yellowstone National Park, lands critical for their winter range and calving grounds. Access to important habitat will help alleviate harsh and unnecessary management actions and will help enable the survival and evolutionary potential of this currently ecologically extinct native wildlife species.

This scoping process is a terrific opportunity for us to put forth our vision for wild bison in southwest Montana.

TAKE ACTION! Please review and edit the talking points in the sample letter below, and in your own words, tell Montana that you fully support securing year-round habitat in Montana where wild, migratory buffalo may freely roam. Comments are being accepted through August 24, 2012. Alternately, you can send your comments directly to:

Patrick Flowers, Regional Supervisor
Bison Habitat Bison EA
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
PO Box 200701
Helena MT 59620
(406) 994-4042
Email: YearRoundBison-scoping@mt.gov

Christian Mackay, Executive Officer
Montana Department of Livestock
PO Box 200201
Helena MT 59620
(406) 444_9431
Email: bison-EA@mt.gov

Subject:

Your Letter:

Thank you for considering my scoping comments outlining how to best protect America's last wild buffalo and provide Montanans and the American people an opportunity to secure year-round habitat where migratory buffalo may freely roam.

I strongly support Montana analyzing and adopting measures that support viable populations of migratory buffalo on year-round habitat in the state.

Montana can fulfill its public trust responsibilities for "each generation as trustee of the environment for succeeding generations" (MCA 75-1-103) by providing year-round habitat for wild, migratory buffalo in the state.

The buffalo's status in Montana is in "greatest conservation need" and "at risk because of very limited and/or potentially declining population numbers, range and/or habitat, making it vulnerable to global extinction or extirpation in the state."

This dire situation can be reversed by Montana evaluating and adapting the most protective measures that provide year-round habitat for America's last wild migratory buffalo and ensuring the persistence of the wild species by:

* Designating year-round habitat consistent with the National Forest goal of providing "habitat for viable populations of all indigenous wildlife species and for increasing populations of big game animals."

* Including all buffalo in year-round habitat, not just bulls, to allow the population to naturally reproduce and remain viable.

* Allowing buffalo on private lands where the wild species is welcome.

* Eliminating arbitrary 'haze-back' dates that preempt buffalo from occupying habitat year-round.

* Designating buffalo migration corridors and developing wildlife safe passages.

* Working with land management agencies in adapting fire to open up migration corridors in dense forested areas and in restoring grasslands.

* Providing connectivity to larger core habitats beyond the Gallatin National Forest for migratory buffalo to occupy year-round.

* Remedying the loss of public trust resources caused by buffalo's extirpation from Montana by permitting the beneficial roles migratory buffalo provide for our environmental life support system.

* Eliminate 'zone-management' boundaries and adapt 'free to roam' year-round habitat for migratory buffalo.

Please honor our shared cultural heritage by allowing migratory buffalo to persist in Montana once again as a valued indigenous wildlife species.

Thank you for considering my comments on behalf of the last remaining descendants of migratory buffalo in North America to continuously occupy their native habitats.  Please keep me informed as this process continues.

Christian Mackay

Montana Department of Livestock
P.O. Box 200201
Helena, MT 59620
US

Patrick Flowers

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Regional Supervisor
Bison Habitat EA
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620
US

Montana will hold two public meetings on this scoping proposal, so if there is any way you can attend - or encourage others to - that would really help wild buffalo!

>> West Yellowstone: August 20, 6-8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn
>> Gardiner: August 21, 6-8 p.m. at the Gardiner High School Theater

Review Montana's scoping document

DRIVE THE MESSAGE HOME! Show your support for wild buffalo roaming freely in Montana with BFC's "Let Buffalo Roam" license plates! In Montana, you can get your official plates at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and anyone, anywhere in the U.S. can acquire a sample plate to show solidarity for wild buffalo! Click here or on the image above to learn how to get yours! A portion of the proceeds go directly to BFC's work in defense of America's last wild buffalo.