Montana approves relocating bison to Fort Belknap, Fort Peck reservations

Montana officials on Friday approved the relocation of 68 quarantined bison from Yellowstone National Park to two Indian reservations amid intense debate over whether the animal that once populated the American West has a place on today's landscape. The Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission gave its permission to move the animals once agreements are negotiated with Fort Belknap and Fort Peck tribal leaders over monitoring for disease and how to prevent the animals from escaping to neighboring land. The tribes will take ownership of the animals. Fort Peck and Fort Belknap tribal officials have long coveted the Yellowstone bison, which is one of the only existing herds that haven't mixed their genetics with cattle. FWP officials have said the relocation of the genetically pure Yellowstone bison involved in the U.S. government's quarantine program may help answer the question of whether the species can be reintroduced to some public lands in Montana where they roamed free two centuries ago. Conservation groups endorsed the commission's action Friday as a step in that direction. Neighboring ranchers are skeptical that the tribes will be able to keep the bison from escaping. Rancher Vicki Hofeldt said members of the Fort Belknap's existing herd of 500 bison caused at least $26,000 worth of damage to her land when they escaped this past year...more