Justin Downes, Niyah Knight and Jordan Paige

Brooklyn College Academy

Environmental Science

May 19, 2017

The plight of the bison in America is one filled with a long history of respect for the

animal since the first Natives started hunting it, to a mass slaughter of them in the 1800s for

industrial and political reasons to now in present day we cull them to stop the spread of disease.

The Initiative that was dubbed a final solution for the Buffalo was set up in 2000 and called

the Interagency Bison Management Plan. The Government agencies that are involved in the

management of the future of the Bison are the National Park Service, The Montana Department

of Livestock and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. These three major players in

the game have different interests based on their functions and we will be explaining each of them

today in this presentation.

The National Park Service is the first Government agency we will be talking about and

it's function is to preserve the land, plants and animals of protected environmental areas. In their

1916 original act it states that they are mandated to conserve the scenery and the natural and

historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such

manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future

generations. The National Park in 2000 when the management plan for the Buffalo was dropped

opposed some parts of the plans. The plans from the Bison had some key points such as

Bison exiting the Park would be hazed back in.

 When that doesn't work those Bison will be held at Stephen's Creek facility inside the

northern boundary of Yellowstone.

Bison that manages to escape from the park unhazed can be shot by Montana department

of Livestock officials, or Hunters.

Captured Bison Females will be tested for brucellosis (a pathogen)

The Population would be managed to around 3,000 and the Bison would be culled based

on that number.

The Montana Department of fish, wildlife and parks or (FWP) wants to manage the

population of the wildlife like other animals in the area like elk and they are not as worried about

the environment like the National Park Service. The Montana Department of Livestock main

goal is to stop the Brucella Abortus bacteria: a proteobacterium that causes abortion and

infertility in cattles and humans can get this bacteria from intaking unpasteurized dairies. The

DOL had no interest in having a policy for bison outside of the park until they came into

agreement and created a partnership with Interagency Bison Management Plan. The Interagency

Bison Management Plan tries to create areas for Bison in the winter and early spring seasons.

Lastly, the Montana Department of livestock is a government agency that represents the

cattle industry's best interests. They are the most opposed to Bison conservation and although

they tolerate some Bison outside of designated areas during winter and spring after those times

the officials start hazing the animals or shoot them on sight. They don't want any expansion

because of fear of the Bison spreading the pathogen to the cattle in the state. The terms for the

habit to expand for them are that the animals must be culled to a certain number before that can

happen.