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Montana Continues to Wrestle With Bison Management

February 23, 2010.

From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:

Is there a future for wild bison in Montana?

That’s the basic question at least one Montana wildlife biologist will wrestle with over the coming year.

Arnold Dood, a 33-year veteran of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks who’s worked on wildlife restoration plans for animals as controversial as the grizzly bear and as anonymous as the spiny soft-shelled turtle, will crisscross the state with offers to talk about bison with groups and communities.

"Bison were a native resident Montana game animal, but in the grand scheme of our country’s wildlife restoration story, bison no longer show up," said Dave Risley, administrator of FWP’s fish and wildlife division. "What FWP hopes to do over the next year is listen to what Montanans have to say about the interest in establishing a wild and huntable bison population. The idea is to simply evaluate how Montana would approach opportunities for wild bison in the state."

Risley stressed that FWP is not trying to pin down a spot to reintroduce bison or even call for that to happen, but rather to simply discuss the issues, challenges, and opportunities that would be associated with any effort to restore wild bison anywhere in the state.

"This is as far away from a formal process as you can get," Risley said. "The bison is the largest North American herbivore whose past is packed with historical significance and emotion. We know people have opinions and ideas and we simply want to explore a really broad range discussion across the state."

Wild and hunted bison exist in Alaska, Arizona, South Dakota, and Utah, Risley said. Montana, too, hunts a limited of number of wild bison that migrate north from Yellowstone National Park into winter habitats near West Yellowstone and Gardiner.

"It’s been done in other places," Risley said. "Maybe it could happen here, but maybe not. That’s the question we want to explore."

Presentations and discussions will be accommodated on request. FWP also will develop a schedule of presentations for various groups. To arrange for a presentation call: 406-994-6780.

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