Comment from Hersey, Rene

Rene HerseySupportIndividual

Summary: The commenter strongly advocates for listing the American Bison as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. They argue that the species is being decimated by excessive hunting, habitat loss, and state-level management practices that favor the livestock industry over conservation.

See attached file(s) I write today to strongly advocate for listing of American Bison as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. I was gutted to learn that this past hunting season there was a firing-line style 'hunt' at the boundary of Yellowstone NP, killing at least 349+ pregnant females carrying their young, the next generation & 25% of the entire wild Bison herds killed and gone forever & this doesn't include winter killed Buffalo & deaths by vehicles. Excessive hunting along Yellowstone’s North and West boundaries blocks migration to available habitat, prevents restoration yet all the science points to a healthier eco system with the presence of Bison grazing & their importance to the Grizzly Bears, Wolves, & all the mammals who rely on their carcasses for nutrition. Bison are killed the moment they step one foot into Montana, despite the fact that the Park has even stated that there have not been any confirmed cases of Bison transmitting Brucellosis to cattle. In fact, it is the other way around, domestic cattle are a health risk to wild roaming Bison. The state of Montana is complicit with the cattle industry in wanting the reduction of the wild herds. They create cruel hardship on our native Bison & have an unreasonable & unsubstantiated intolerance for native wild Buffalo. The state even prohibits Bison grazing on Bison friendly private land! There is no attempt to protect and shepherd Bison with the present system and the current Montana politicians. Bison have lost most of their migratory corridors, the state should be planning wildlife crossings to provide the herds with safe passage yet Montana FWP has pulled away from science and the governor/state of Montana would not work with the Interagency Bison Management Plan Meeting last December even though the consensus by the Park, independent biologists, many tribal nations, Bison advocates, the American people, want Bison to flourish on our public and trust lands. The state of Montana is a real threat to the survival of this species. The Interagency Bison Management Plan, a joint state/tribal/federal plan that facilitates the destruction of wild, migratory Buffalo through capture-for-slaughter and -quarantine (domestication), excessive hunting, hazing, and unnecessary and harmful scientific experimentation, all to benefit Montana’s livestock industry. The presence of invasive cattle along with accompanying fencing that takes away critical habitat. Human developments such as agricultural lands, sub-divisions, roads, etc., that have all but destroyed ancient migration corridors and habitat connectivity. Government-created “drop dead zones” and “intolerance zones” that prevent wild, migratory bison from accessing public and private lands. The lack of safe passage infrastructure along dangerous highways, specifically U.S. Hwy. 191, which cut through a critical migration corridor in Montana’s Hebgen Basin. The poor decision by the USNF Gallatin National Forest which denied wild, migratory Buffalo Species of Conservation Concern status. The draconian law, MCA 81-2-120, that gives authority over wild, migratory Bison to the Montana Department of Livestock. Climate changes resulting in accelerated rises in temperature and less precipitation that impairs these Ice Age mammals’ evolutionary potential, by threatening their ability to adapt to increased and prolonged heat. Climate changes alters the composition of grasses and sedges rendering them less nutritious. The failure of of state, tribal, and federal managers to consider the perspective of the buffalo in management decisions. The refusal of the State of Montana to allow buffalo to migrate onto buffalo-friendly private lands. The massive fence and cattle guard at Yankee Jim Canyon, north of the Gardiner Basin, that aims to prevent wild, migratory buffalo from accessing ancestral home ranges. Wild, migratory bison exist on less than 1% of their historic ancestral home ranges. The Bison ranching industry which has reduced bison to livestock and has given the false impression that bison have been “recovered” throughout their native range. For all of these reasons, please prioritize giving federal protection under the ESA to avoid another winter slaughter which will threaten the herds yet again and also further traumatize the local communities living around YNP. America treasures our indigenous American Bison and want them protected. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to comment for our Bison.

Attachments

View on regulations.gov →