Comment from Williams, Pamela
Pamela WilliamsSupportIndividual
Summary: An individual commenter supports the listing of the Yellowstone bison as an endangered species. They argue that the species faces significant threats from hostile state wildlife management policies, habitat destruction, human incursion, and the lack of adequate regulatory protections.
I support Endangered Species designation for the prairie bison. It is clear to me that the species has been and continues to be under myriad threats, including the following:<br/><br/>A) The unrelenting politically-influenced hostility to native wildlife expressed via wildlife “management” policies in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming (Factor D);<br/>B) The State of Montana’s unwavering fealty to ag-business interests to the detriment of native species like the bison. This is also at the expense of public lands co-owners — i.e., every American taxpayer (Factors A, D) who long for intact, vibrant ecosystems and coexistence. <br/>C) Inflexible Montana policies that permit/encourage hunting of bison the minute they step over the imaginary YNP boundary line in search of forage and ancient migratory destinations (Factor B).<br/>D) An utter disregard by wildlife “managers” and the MT Dept of Ag for ancient migratory routes; failure to protect these animals from human incursion into critical habitat, including deadly roads and highways (Factor A);<br/>E) Yellowstone National Park’s collusion with slaughter ops that indiscriminately remove genetic material from the single wild remaining herd of plains bison (Factor D);<br/>F) Domestication of the species that threatens to turn it into another cattle-like species valued only for its exploitation value (Factors B, E);<br/>G) The obvious grave danger of MT’s Dept of Livestock having ongoing authority over migrating wild bison (Factors A, D);<br/>H) The effects of climate change on suitability of habitat and availability of appropriate forage, which is all the more dire because of the State’s hostility to this species and determination to NOT accommodate its needs (Factor E).<br/><br/>In my view, the plains bison qualifies for ESA protection on the basis of inadequate regulatory mechanisms alone, but that is only one of many threats. Please do not disregard the voices and interests of public lands owners — the American public. Please consider also the needs of this iconic species which is symbolic and beloved. It is past time to reverse the persecution and disrespect and embrace biodiversity, coexistence, and public lands that serve all of us, including our wild ones.