The governor of Montana had already threatened to file a lawsuit over the National Park Service’s proposal to allow the bison population in Yellowstone National Park to grow to 6,000 animals. The plan was completed last week. The decision record describes the management strategy for the Great Plains keystone species, which are significant to Native American customs, to be implemented by the park service, which is the only agency authorized to oversee bison inside the park. Transferring bison to tribal areas will be given priority under the plan, which also stipulates that the population must remain between 3,500 and 6,000. The NPS adds that in order to coordinate the amount of harvest that occurs outside of the park, agency representatives will keep collaborating with the state, private landowners, and tribes.
In an interview with KBZK, Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly stated, “We’ve tried to strike a balance, listen to various stakeholders, cooperating agencies, tribes, and the general public to come up with a balanced plan that’s by far not perfect.”
Transferring bison to tribal areas will be given priority under the plan, which also stipulates that the population must remain between 3,500 and 6,000. The NPS adds that in order to coordinate the amount of harvest that occurs outside of the park, agency representatives will keep collaborating with the state, private landowners, and tribes.
In an interview with KBZK, Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly stated, “We’ve tried to strike a balance, listen to various stakeholders, cooperating agencies, tribes, and the general public to come up with a balanced plan that’s by far not perfect.”
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