Comment on FR Doc # 2026-09387
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Summary: American Prairie argues that bison grazing should be treated with the same consideration as cattle grazing, emphasizing that bison are a native keystone species. They advocate for management based on ecological science and stewardship benchmarks rather than the specific type of livestock.
Decisions about managing state trust lands ought to rest on solid science, real evidence of ecological condition, and practices that have been shown to work—not on which animal happens to be grazing. Bison are a native keystone species that historically shaped and sustained the health of prairie landscapes, and allowing well-managed bison herds to continue that role is entirely consistent with protecting Montana's natural heritage alongside hunting, recreation, and wildlife conservation. Any operator, whether running cattle or bison, should be judged on the same basis: are they meeting stewardship benchmarks and following the terms of their permit? On that standard, bison grazing deserves the same fair consideration as any other grazing use. There's also a tangible payoff for Montanans in keeping bison on the land—American Prairie's herds have opened up distinctive public hunting access, provided families with locally sourced meat, and given people a way to experience the state's wildlife heritage and hunting traditions firsthand.