Defenders of Wildlife Blog

A meeting to remember

Attending day-long meetings of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission isn’t usually at the top of my list of favorite things to do. But last Friday was one meeting that I simply couldn’t miss. The Commission was finally considering a proposal to relocate 68 bison from a quarantine facility near Yellowstone National Park where they’ve been held for more than five years to two tribal reservations in northeast Montana.

For years, Defenders has been pushing state wildlife managers to give the bison to the tribes, and this was our last chance to show our support. When it was my turn to testify, I told the commission that although we cannot return to the past when tens of millions of bison roamed the Great Plains, surely there are at least a few places to restore genetically pure wild bison. These two reservations stand ready and willing; this is an offer we should not refuse.

The bison of Yellowstone National Park are some of the only genetically pure wild bison left, and the Assiniboine, Gros Ventre and Sioux tribes of these two reservations have long wished for their return. Giving the bison to the tribes would mark the beginning of efforts to restore new conservation herds of these important bison to the heart of their historic range in the Great Plains.

Although we cannot return to the past when tens of millions of bison roamed the Great Plains, surely there are at least a few places to restore genetically pure wild bison.

Several Defenders’ Montana members spoke in support of the plan too, as did other local Montanans and tribal members as well.

“These majestic animals have played a very significant part in the history, religion, and the culture of our native people of the fort peck reservation,” said Floyd Azure, Fort Peck Reservation Tribal Council Chairman, as reported by the Associated Press. “These bison have sustained our ancestors for thousands of years and they are in need of us of returning the favor. We are here to make sure they will always be here for our children.”

The proposal seemed like a no-brainer to us, and the majority of people testifying supported the move. But some came to testify in opposition, including commissioners from counties near the reservations and some local landowners who fear the bison will escape and damage their fences and property. Despite these objections, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the plan.

Over the past several years, Defenders has helped Fort Peck and Fort Belknap expand the size of their designated bison reserves (currently 4,800 acres and 22,000 acres, respectively) and purchase the required fencing in preparation for return of these bison. We continue to raise funds to help finish the job, and will continue to help expand the bison reserves as opportunities arise in the future.

The next step is for the state and tribal governments to complete and sign agreements. This could take a few weeks to a few months. Then, the tribes are planning a “welcome home” ceremony for their return.

When that happens, we’ll be one step closer to the true restoration of wild bison to their historic stomping grounds.

 

Historic decision to return genetically pure bison to tribes paves way for conservation

Montana wildlife commission approves transfer of 68 Yellowstone bison to Fort Peck and Fort Belknap Reservations

HELENA, Mont. (Dec. 9, 2011) – Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission approved a land-mark plan today to move 68 bison from a quarantine facility near Yellowstone National Park to the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap Indian Reservations.

The following is a statement from Jonathan Proctor, Rocky Mountain representative for Defenders of Wildlife:

“This is a significant milestone for the restoration of genetically pure bison and a critical step forward for returning these animals which migrated out of Yellowstone Park to parts of their historic range across the Great Plains. The tribes of Fort Peck and Fort Belknap Reservations have repeatedly offered to welcome the bison back. For this we owe these tribes and the Commission our sincere gratitude.

“Returning these animals to tribal lands will allow at least some of Yellowstone’s bison to escape the government-led slaughter that has occurred in the past decade when bison have migrated out of the Park in winter in search of forage. Additional innovative strategies need to be developed as an alternative to slaughter and as a way to restore genetically pure bison to the wild beyond the confines of the park. These are the most genetically important bison in the United States  and should not be killed needlessly, especially when there is plenty of suitable habitat available.

“Governor Schweitzer has played an instrumental role in exploring new avenues for bison conservation and deserves credit for moving this plan forward. We are honored to have been able to help the Assiniboine, Sioux and Gros Ventre tribes by contributing funds for their efforts to secure grazing permits and build the required fencing in preparation for the return of bison. We look forward to continuing to support this project now that the plan has been approved.”

Background:
Millions of bison thundered across the Great Plains for thousands of years. But by the end of the 1800s, those vast herds had been virtually eliminated due to unregulated shooting. Today, wild bison are making a small comeback in places like Yellowstone National Park, but they need more room to roam. Defenders has been a leading proponent of returning Yellowstone bison to tribal lands, and we’ve worked closely with tribal wildlife managers for years at the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap Indian Reservations. We’ve invested more than $84,000 so far for bison restoration at both reservations and will be making additional contributions for fencing and for purchasing adjacent grazing allotments. Though relatively small in area (4,800 acres at Fort Peck and 22,000 acres at Fort Belknap), these new bison reserves have potential for expansion and will also lead by example for tribal and public land managers elsewhere.

Learn more about Defenders’ efforts to restore bison to the Great Plains

Read about bison on Defenders’ blog

Visit Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks bison conservation page

Read the announcement recommending the bison relocation to tribal lands

Montana poised to approve the return of 68 bison to tribal lands

We’re almost there!

This Friday the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will decide what to do with some of the last genetically pure bison left in America: keep them locked in a quarantine facility or relocate them to start new wild herds on the Fort Belknap and Fort Peck Indian Reservations.

As part of a government experiment to see if the disease brucellosis could be removed from a herd of genetically pure Yellowstone bison, hundreds of bison were placed in quarantine. These bison have been proven time and again to be free of brucellosis, yet they remain in quarantine more than 5 years later.

Governor Schweitzer and the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff have recommended that the Commission approve the transfer of the 68 Yellowstone bison remaining in quarantine to these tribal lands.

Defenders of Wildlife supports release of these bison for restoration on tribal lands. After years of working towards restoring additional herds of these American icons, one final approval remains.

The Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of Fort Peck Reservation and the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes of Fort Belknap Reservation have stepped up to the plate and welcome the responsibility of living with these respected animals, the way their ancestors did for years before.

This is an offer our state should not refuse.

If the relocation proposal passes, these bison could be moved anytime in the next few months.

Read more about bison in the latest issue of Defenders magazine…

 

Getting a Glimpse

It’s not every day one gets a chance to make the long trip up to the state of Alaska, so when Defenders gave me the offer, I seized it! And in my ten days there, I did my best to see as much as I could of the state. But as anyone who’s been to Alaska knows, it’s a big place! I was fortunate enough to get a taste of what natural treasures the state has to offer, and squeezed in trips to Fox Island, Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park. Between those unique, breathtaking places and my experiences below, this was truly a trip to remember.

During my trip, I visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), a nonprofit that takes in displaced, injured or orphaned animals and works to return those they can to the wild. It was there that Dr. Jordan Schaul, the center’s conservation biologist and curator, gave me the offer of a lifetime: feeding some Kodiak brown bear cubs. Don’t be fooled (as I was) – these were no teddy bears. These “cubs” were 18 months old, each weighing more than 200 pounds! Discovered as orphans in the wild nine months ago, the center has been their home ever since. In addition to providing homes for bears, moose, caribou, wood bison and more, the AWCC provides education opportunities about Alaskan wildlife, and works on conservation efforts like the Wood Bison Reintroduction Project.

Our next stop was the Alaska SeaLife Center on Resurrection Bay. Alaska’s only public aquarium and ocean wildlife rescue center, it is dedicated to research, rehabilitation and education, and will be the key facility for the rescue of any marine animals and birds in the event of an oil spill in the area. While there, we were able to get a behind-the-scenes tour by center president Dr. Ian Dutton (husband to Defenders’ own Karla Dutton), who showed us a new energy system he just installed that uses sea water to heat and cool the building. When completed, the system will supply approximately 60% of the annual heating requirements of the center while reducing carbon emissions by approximately 1.3 million pounds.

Getting Some Perspective

As I said, one of the things that struck me the most about this trip was seeing firsthand just how vast Alaska is. For years, Defenders has been working to protect the Arctic Ocean from offshore drilling, and having been here I can’t imagine what anyone would do if there was an oil disaster in the state’s remote waters, particularly with the Arctic’s extreme and unpredictable weather. As of yet, the offshore drilling industry has not been able to prove they have clean-up technology should a catastrophe like the one that happened in the Gulf of Mexico last year take place. And with the nearest Coast Guard station 1,000 miles away, they won’t be able to count on the government for backup. Being here strengthened my resolve to fight risky drilling in the fragile Arctic Ocean, and protect the incredible wildlife I’d come to know.

The Alaskan Conservation Community/Rock Star Alaskan Citizen Advocates

Of course, the main purpose of my trip was work! In addition to building Defenders’ Alaska’s office outreach program with Karla Dutton and Theresa Fiorino, I conducted two outreach trainings in Anchorage and Mat Su Valley. The trainings themselves were incredible, with motivated people coming together to build their skills on strategic campaign planning, communicating with elected officials and federal agencies, working with the media and community organizing. I wasn’t the only one doing the training – one of the best parts of these two days was learning about the innovative ideas the local organizations and volunteers were already implementing to achieve their advocacy goals.

While it is apparent very quickly that Alaska is a different kind of place, it is also very clear that there are some incredibly dedicated people and organizations there working to protect all that makes it special. I came out of this experience feeling recharged and convinced now, more than ever, that by working together, we really can win the daunting conservation battles we are facing.

Learn more:

See what Defenders’ Alaska office is doing to protect the state’s unique wildlife and breathtaking natural places.

See more images from my trip below!

At the start of WWII, the U.S. Army purchased grasslands just north of Denver, Colorado and turned them into a chemical weapons testing and manufacturing site–hence the name Arsenal. Today, this area is a safe haven for wildlife. But how did these lands make the turnaround from industrial zone to conservation success story?

After weapons development ceased, an immense environmental cleanup effort began. Poisonous waste products had to be removed  and streams clean of toxic compounds. When nesting bald eagles were found on the site, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joined the effort. And in 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed legislation designating the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, which today spans some 16,000 acres.

What to Do?

The area was originally short-grass prairie and key habitat for black-tailed prairie dogs, bison and more. The Fish and Wildlife Service is working hard to restore these lands to their natural state, planning to have reseeded nearly 8,000 acres of former crop fields with buffalo grass, blue grama, wild flowers, shrubs and other grasses native to Colorado’s high plains over the next several years.

Today, mule deer, coyote, and black-tailed prairie dogs are common sights.  And since 2007, the mighty bison has once again called this refuge home.

More than nine miles of trails provide opportunities for viewing and photographing the diverse wildlife and scenic landscape. Wildflowers color the vast plains and the majestic Rocky Mountains make a picturesque backdrop. The stunning scenery lends itself to the refuge’s annual photography competition, where the winners’ images are made into official postcards.

One of the primary goals of the refuge is to provide environmental education to the community, particularly younger generations. The refuge hosts hayrides and guided tours to get children up close and interacting with the natural world. The staff also leads programs to help eager Girl and Boy Scouts earn their badges.

The visitor’s center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a great source of information about the refuge’s history, landscape and wildlife. Engaging storytellers at the center’s Ranger Reader Station can spin a good yarn for the youngsters, while adults can take a tour with the refuge’s knowledgeable staff.

As these lands have transformed over the years from farmland to industrial site to wildlife refuge, they’ve developed a rich history that includes remarkable achievements in restoring and safeguarding the natural world.

TAKE REFUGE at the ROCKY MOUNTAIN ARSENAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE in Commerce City, Colo.