Year-Round YNP Bison Tolerance to be Addressed

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The following is a press release from the Montana Department of Livestock:

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and Montana Department of Livestock (DoL) today announced that the two agencies will be jointly conducting an environmental review of allowing some bison to inhabit lands adjacent to or near the border of Yellowstone National Park year-round.  This scoping notice (read it here) – the first step in the environmental review process – is intended to solicit public comment regarding the proposal.

The proposed action is an adaptive change to the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) that would allow for year-round bison use in the following portions of the Gallatin National Forest: The Hebgen Basin, the Cabin Creek Recreation and Wildlife Management Unit, the Monument Mountain Unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, the Upper Gallatin River corridor, and for year-round use by bull bison in the Gardiner Basin.

Some of the issues intended to be addressed include:

  • How would the year-round presence of bison affect public safety?
  • What are the effects to private landowners in the vicinity of the year-round bison habitats?
  • Would the year-round presence of bison provide for additional bison hunting opportunities?
  • Would the bison move back into YNP over time without hazing activities?
  • Would there be a measureable change in seasonal bison movements if there was year-round habitat available?
  • How would the year-round presence of bison affect local livestock operations?
  • How would the year-round presence of bison affect other wildlife and habitat?
  • What is the likelihood that bison will move beyond the proposed boundaries, what are consequences of these movements, and how will they be mitigated?

Public meetings on the environmental assessment and decision notice are scheduled for:

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

The public scoping period will end August 24, with a draft EA expected by late October. Public comment on the draft EA is expected to close in late November, with a final decision on the EA expected by mid-December.

Comments and questions can be directed to:                                    

Bison Habitat EA

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

PO Box 200701

Helena MT 59620

406/994-4042

Email: yearroundbison-scoping@mt.gov

 

Bison EA

Montana Department of Livestock

PO Box 200201

Helena MT 59620

406/444-9431

Email: bison-EA@mt.gov

Source:  Montana Department of Livestock

Posted by Haylie Shipp

 

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