Gallatin Wildlife Association

The Gallatin Wildlife Association meets every Tuesday morning, 8:00 AM upstairs at the Community Food Co-op in Bozeman. Feel free to join us, there's invariably much to discuss.

Highlights

Gallatin Wildlife Association submits comments opposing renewal of the Gallatin National Forest's South Fork and Watkins Creek grazing allotments, in the West Yellowstone area. If cattle are allowed in these areas it will pose a major obstacle to our goal of wild buffalo in the Hebgen Lake Basin. Read comments submitted my GWA ...

Gallatin Wildlife Association submits comments on the Montana State Fish, Wildlife, and Parks/IBMP proposal for wild, free ranging bison in the Gardiner Basin. We are advocating that bison entering the Gardiner Basin not be hazed, slaughtered, and held in capture facilities. Read comments submitted by GWA ...

US Forest Service designates bighorn sheep as Sensitive Species,

In February, 2010 the Gallatin Wildlife Association petitioned Region 1 of the Forest Service to designate Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep as a sensitive species, and recently (February 2011) they agreed! Sensitive status will direct National Forests to emphasize protection of bighorns in their management decisions.
In its petition, Gallatin Wildlife cited eleven reasons to provide sensitive status for bighorns. These included:
- Montana bighorns are absent from most of their historic range, persisting mostly in small, isolated herds.
- Of 46 bighorn herds in Montana, 59% are below the state minimum standard of 125 animals for a viable population; 37% are below management objectives; 35% have objectives below the minimum viable standard; 46% have suffered one or more dieoffs since 1984; whereas only 11 herds exceed 200 animals.
- There are numerous threats to persistence of Montana bighorns. These include disease from contact with domestic sheep or goats, highway mortalities, and conifer encroachment that degrades bighorn habitat.
- Genetics of Montana bighorn are largely unknown, posing threats of inbreeding in small populations and loss of genetic diversity and evolutionary potential to respond to changing environments.
- Montana policy always places a higher priority on agricultural production than on wildlife restoration. This limits opportunities to maintain and enhance Montana bighorn herds.
Designation of bighorn sheep as a sensitive species will focus Forest Service efforts to enhance bighorn populations on our public lands, in accordance with Forest Service mandates to maintain diversity of native wildlife on our National Forests.

HB 482 killed in House Fish, "Wildlife", and Parks committee, 2/18/11

The Montana Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act was killed on a strict party-line vote yesterday. Glenn sent out a very good summary last night, which I'll include below. Briefly though, ironies abound, as the Chairman of this committee is former GWA Board member Ted Washburn.

And now, Glenn's report:

The Montana Wild Buffalo Conservation and Management Act of 2011 was heard this afternoon in the House FWP Committee. We had a great hearing with a diverse and substantial showing of proponents so large that many did not get to say much more than their name, affiliation and support for the bill. There were only 3 opponents that spoke Tim Ravndal, Jay Bodner with the Montana Stockgrowers Association and some gal from the Montana Farm Bureau. Proponents included the FWP, CSKT tribal representatives, hunters, landowners in both the Gardiner and West Yellowstone areas, business owners from both Gardiner and West Yellowstone, an outfitter and large landowner (Dome Mountain Ranch), a farmer/Agricultural Entrepreneur, one livestock producer, various individuals, Zoo Montana, and a variety of conservation groups including but not limited to GWA, MWF, Helena Hunters and Anglers, BFC, GYC, YBF, WWF, TWCS, NRDC, NPCA and I probably forgot some. There was also a lot of support sent in via email and call in testimony.
Unfortunately, I just got word that the bill died this evening in the committee on a 14-6 vote. This speaks to the strangle hold the MSGA and MFB have on the Republican Party. They sure didn’t waste any time. However, I believe there was a photographer and reporter from Bozeman Chronicle so there will likely be an article in the paper tomorrow.

I want to thank everyone for their efforts in support of the bison and in particular their support for this legislative effort. Please take the time to thank Representative Mike Phillips mikephillips@montana.net for drafting, introducing and proudly carrying this excellent bill. He did an absolutely great job in his introductory testimony as well as his closing statement and we could not have asked for a better sponsor and Statesman - Thank you Mike.

Keep your heads up and like the bison, do not give up. FYI, a Citizen Advisory Council is meeting next week at the Bozeman Public Library (626 E. Main Street) in the large meeting room to discuss options for improving current bison management. This meeting will be facilitated by a professional facilitator and is open to everyone, so please if you have an interest plan on attending.

Thanks,

Glenn
GWA is building broad-based support for the 2011 Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act

The goals of this legislation are;

Recognize buffalo as “valued, native wildlife in the state of Montana.”
Restore Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as the primary agency responsible for the management of wild bison including fair chase, public hunting.
Insure private property rights and livestock are protected, by maintaining cooperation with the Department of Livestock at MCA 81-2-121 to prevent bison from threatening private property.
Repeal current law which allows the government to enter private property without landowner permission (MCA 81-2-120).

For additional information about our bill click here for a fact sheet or click here for bill info from the Legislative website.

\Gallatin Wildlife Association is co-petitioner in Quarantine Bison Public Trust lawsuit.

GWA is proud to join in a lawsuit against the State of Montana for continued failure to recognize wild bison as valued native wildlife.
Wildlife being held in the public trust is a fundamental tenet of game management in this country, and the recent transfer of quarantine survivor's offspring into private livestock sets an intolerably dangerous precedent for wildlife in Montana. Along with the Buffalo Field Campaign, Yellowstone Buffalo Foundation, and Western Watersheds Project we strongly feel the State of Montana needs to live up to earlier promises to manage at least a portion of quarantine survivors as public wildlife on public lands in Montana. We have long-standing suggestions that completely protect private property rights, reduce risk of disease transmission, and turn the situation into an enormous asset.
We regret the situation has come to this, but we will not tolerate this continued erosion of public trust.
You can download the complaint here.
Let's not waste an outstanding Montana Bison Conservation Opportunity!
by GWA Board member Jim Bailey;

Two converging projects of Fish, Wildlife & Parks provide an exceptional opportunity for wildlife conservation, and economic development, in Montana. FWP seeks a home for about 90 disease-free bison coming out of quarantine pens near Yellowstone Park; and FWP is considering renewal of a cattle-grazing lease on the Robb/Ledford Wildlife Management Area south of Alder.

About 90 bison must come out of the quarantine pens in the next few months. Another 40-80 bison will become available later in 2010. These animals are as free of Brucella as can be determined. During 3 to 4 years in the pens, they have been tested far more often than any cattle in Montana.

In 2006, at the start of the quarantine study, FWP expressed its preference for ultimately locating these Yellowstone bison to “suitable public lands in Montana”. At the time, FWP “anticipated several opportunities for bison restoration in Montana” and stated that it was “working with potential cooperators to identify release sites”. Now, over 3 years later, FWP seems unable to find Montana public lands for establishing public-trust wild bison. In fact, last year’s proposal was to ship bison to Wyoming. (more...)

GWA Comments on Robb-Ledford Wildlife Management Area EA

Glenn Hockett prepared the following in-depth scientific analysis of the effect of livestock grazing on our our "Wildlife" Management Area.
Robb-Ledford Wildlife Management Area tour,

On September 9, 2009 GWA Board members Jim Bailey, Paul Griffin, Jim Wisman and Glenn Hockett toured the Robb-Ledford WMA, where domestic livestock use seems to be the priority, over native wildlife. These practices are currently under review.
The 28,097-acre Robb-Ledford Wildlife Management Area, an important elk and big game winter range, lies on the east side of the Snowcrest mountains, south of Alder. It was purchased in 1987 by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for $1.82 million supported by a $500,000 donation from Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. RMEF transferred the property to the FWP in 1988 for $1.99 million of Sportsmen’s dollars (Habitat Montana - HB 526). This was the first major habitat purchase of the RMEF and the first major acquisition of the FWP with Habitat Montana funds. The Robb-Ledford WMA provides important habitat for a variety of native fish, wildlife and plants, including sensitive species such as westslope cutthroat trout, sage grouse and basin big sagebrush. This was a significant habitat purchase and was celebrated by sportsmen in Montana as well as nation-wide. (more...)

Bison Shipment: a Sad Day for Montana
<the following op-ed by GWA Board member Jim Bailey recently ran in the Bozeman Chronicle>

It’s a sad day for Montana when 41 of our disease-free bison are shipped to Wyoming because Montana stockgrowers have the political clout to block reintroduction of this native wild animal in our own state. There are no wild bison year-round in Montana, anywhere.

So far, all we have are empty promises from Fish, Wildlife and Parks regarding efforts to find a home for native bison in Montana. A sampling of comments in a June 2006 FWP decision notice follows: (1) “FWP has identified the restoration of bison to prairie habitats in Montana as an objective in its comprehensive wildlife plan.” (2) FWP “anticipates several opportunities for bison restoration projects in Montana and will prefer relocating bison to a site in Montana.” (3) “There are several suitable properties within Montana where bison could be managed as wildlife.” (4) FWP believes that “the time is appropriate for bison restoration both within the Greater Yellowstone Area and in other suitable habitats.” (5) FWP is “working with potential cooperators to identify suitable release sites” and FWP is “discussing this project with potential cooperators” (in 2006).

Was FWP just blowing smoke? More likely, the political power of Montana stockgrowers, expressed through “their” governor has squelched the good intentions of FWP. In 1896, buffalo hunter Vic Smith said, “The stockmen wanted the bison exterminated so the cattle could have the grass.” Not much has changed. It’s not about brucellosis, it’s about grass, even the grass on our public lands.

Montana Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act of 2009. <Update: Our bill was killed in the House FWP Committee. To read more click here.>

For an excellent summary, Montana's Choice, comparing the existing situation to what we propose, click here.

GWA is building broad-based support for a legislative solution to Montana's current bison management debacle. Rather than attempt to manage wildlife as livestock, our bill;

Designates bison as “Valued, Native Wildlife in the State of Montana.”
Designates Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as the agency responsible for the management of wild bison including fair chase, public hunting.
Continue to insure that private property rights and Montana’s valued livestock brucellosis free status are protected, by maintaining cooperation with the Department of Livestock via MCA 81-2-121.

Here is how you can help: Please let your local legislator know about your support for HB253 by calling 406-444-4800. Montana hunters, landowners, outfitters, local communities, wildlife advocates and other concerned citizens are joining together to ensure their elected officials know we value wild bison as treasured native wildlife.

For more information contact:

Glenn Hockett, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Bozeman, MT
glhockett@bresnan.net or 406-586-1729
Karrie Taggart, Horse Butte Neighbors of Bison (HOBNOB), West Yellowstone, MT, karrietaggart@yahoo.com or 406-646-5140
Jim "JB" Klyap, Dome Mountain Ranch, Emigrant, MT
jim@domemountainranch.com or 406-333-4361

GWA Comment on the Royal Teton Ranch grazing restriction and bison "access" agreement. GWA board member Jim Bailey provided this very succinct assessment of the myriad failings of the RTR deal. I have to quote from his last paragraph; "The Gallatin Wildlife Association believes that, from bluebirds to bison, we are all responsible for our part in conserving diverse wildlife communities for ourselves and future generations."
Brucellosis laws need updating The Bozeman Daily Chronicle carried GWA Board member Jim Wisman's following editorial. (Jimmy wrote this by hand, in one take! It sums the situation as well as I've seen).
Myths of Bison Management and Brucellosis in Montana An excellent summation by Jim Bailey, that requires a page of its own.
Yellowstone Park violating their own policy GWA Board member and retired biologist Jim Bailey wrote the following editorial;
- With all the furor over slaughter of 1600 bison from Yellowstone National Park, we are overlooking a serious issue. The Interagency Bison Management Plan and Yellowstone Superintendent Lewis are violating mandates and policies of the National Park Service.
  Congress mandates retaining Park resources “in their natural conditions” and leaving them “unimpaired for future generations.” Park Service policy is to “maintain processes of naturally evolving ecosystems” and to minimize “human interference with evolving genetic diversity.”
  
  It is likely that genetic diversity of the Park’s bison was lost to slaughtering in 2008. Moreover, natural selection has largely been replaced by human intervention. Coevolution of the Park’s animals, plants and microorganisms has been sidetracked, along with bison adaptation to their physical environment.
  
  Coevolution of bison and Brucella abortus has proceeded for about 100 years in Yellowstone. There is some evidence of resistance to brucellosis in bison already. With progress in genetic engineering, genes for resistance to brucellosis might one day be transferred to livestock; but only if we allow natural selection to proceed in the Park.
  
  The Interagency Bison Management Plan is a dangerous precedent, subverting the purposes established for natural areas within National Parks. We are converting bison to livestock, and making the Park more like just another theme park.
CUT deal is expensive non-solution for bison The Billings Gazette ran the following editorial by GWA Board member Joe Gutkoski about the recent Church Universal and Triumphant grazing buyout;
- Yellowstone National Park agreed on April 19 to a down payment of $1.8 million to the Church Universal and Triumphant plus additional payments of $76,500 a year for 20 years, totaling $3.3 million for a 30-year narrow bison corridor easement and the removal of CUT's small, recently acquired herd of cattle.
  This would allow 25 bison, tested and fitted with neck and vaginal electronic transmitters, to walk the easement and keep the bison from acting like wildlife. They must obey the impossible strictures of the Stockgrowers Written Interagency Bison Management Plan and to stay within its restrictive Zones 1, 2 and 3 boundaries.
  
  We are paying $3.3 million twice for a single easement along a Park County road that has a public right of way. Why do four nongovernment organizations and a seriously misled governor support this deal?
  
  It is to mask the fact that our governor has allowed the elimination of 1,600 bison in 2008 on his watch - more than at any time since the later 1800s.
  
  It perpetuates a falsehood that bison are being allowed to widely roam in Montana.
  
  It is a ruse to brag that adoptive management is practiced under the IBMP.
  
  It is a public relations stunt to divide and quiet the questioners.
  
  To hide the fact that the population is below 2,500 bison within YNP.
  
  The $3.3 million deal supports and reinforces the Stockgrowers IBMP.
  
  The deal will lead to bison slaughter in the future and does nothing for a solution.

Working to protect habitat and conserve wildlife.