Senator to Forest Service: Rebuild fences to help Montana Ranchers

Senator Jon Tester is calling on the U.S. Forest Service to quickly rebuild hundreds of miles of National Forest fencing recently destroyed by Montanas record wildfires. Tester said that without fencing, ranchers cannot control their herds and that thousands of animals are roaming onto private property. Fires across southeast Montana have affected 256 miles of private fence bordering Custer National Forest and 151 miles of National Forest fencing. Tester wants the Forest Service to prioritize its available resources to rebuild the fences, as well as watering tanks and other grazing infrastructure located on Forest Service property. Tester noted that wildfires also destroyed nearly 190 miles of fence and nine stock tanks on Northern Cheyenne Reservation...more