Endangered and Threatened Species: 90-Day Finding for Three Petitions to List the Yellowstone Bison

A group of researchers and conservationists submitted an academic paper titled "The Ecological Future of the North American Bison" to provide a long-term, large-scale vision for bison restoration. The document outlines the "Vermejo Statement," which emphasizes inclusive, ambitious, and ecologically significant goals for the species over the next century.

The Wildlife Law Program of Friends of Animals argues that the Yellowstone bison should be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. They provide scientific evidence regarding the bison's genetic diversity, current threats from habitat destruction and overutilization, and the inadequacy of current management plans to ensure long-term viability.

The Council on Wildlife and Fish, along with the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council, argues that the Yellowstone bison are being subjected to excessive killing and habitat loss due to commercial interests and poor management. They support the ESA listing as a necessary measure to protect migratory routes, end illegal fencing and hazing, and preserve the cultural significance of the bison.

The commenter, representing Great Old Broads for Wilderness and the Gallatin Wildlife Association, supports the listing of the Yellowstone bison to protect them from extinction and habitat loss. They argue that the federal government must assert supremacy over state agencies to ensure bison conservation and criticize the current management practices of the State of Montana and the U.S. Forest Service.

Wyoming Wildlife Advocates supports the petition to list the Yellowstone bison as a Threatened or Endangered species. They argue that the herd faces significant threats from habitat destruction, capture and slaughter by ranchers, and climate change, and that listing them is necessary to provide a regulatory mechanism for their protection.

The Gallatin Wildlife Association, a nonprofit conservation organization, strongly urges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list Yellowstone bison as a distinct population segment under the Endangered Species Act. They argue that the Yellowstone herd is uniquely significant due to its high level of genetic purity and its long-term persistence in a native landscape, necessitating specific protections to maintain its genetic integrity.

The commenter argues that bison are currently restricted to a small area for political reasons and should be listed under the Endangered Species Act. They emphasize the ecological and cultural importance of bison and advocate for providing them with more space to roam as a wild species.

The commenter highlights numerous threats to the wild bison population in Yellowstone, including habitat loss, human development, and management practices like trapping and domestication. They argue that these factors justify and necessitate the protection and recovery of the species under the Endangered Species Act.

The commenter argues that the Yellowstone bison are currently facing numerous threats, including habitat loss, human development, and management practices like trapping and domestication. They advocate for the protection and recovery of wild bison under the Endangered Species Act to address these ongoing issues.

A family is submitting comments in support of listing the Yellowstone bison as an endangered species. They argue that the bison are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and lack of regulatory mechanisms, and that the Endangered Species Act provides a necessary pathway for their protection and recovery.

The commenter, identifying as a regular supporter of the Buffalo Field Campaign, argues that the Yellowstone bison and all American bison herds should be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. They cite several factors for this listing, including habitat loss to cattle and development, human-caused mortality on highways, and management practices that impair natural migration and adaptation.

The commenter supports the proposed action to list the Yellowstone Bison as an endangered species, arguing that it is necessary for their nutritional health and ecological role. They emphasize that bison are "keystone" species that restore biodiversity, sequester carbon, and create resilient grassland ecosystems.

The commenter supports the listing of the Yellowstone Bison and advocates for their protection as an umbrella species. They call for the removal of migration barriers, the creation of wildlife crossings, and an end to winter slaughters until a sustainable population is established.

The commenter supports the listing of the Yellowstone Bison as an endangered species and advocates for a management plan that prioritizes population recovery over lethal management and dispersal programs. They argue that current state policies and livestock interests are harming the bison and call for the protection of migration corridors and the preservation of the species' genetic diversity.

David A. Brunetti argues that the Yellowstone bison should be listed under the Endangered Species Act due to numerous threats including habitat loss, human development, and ongoing slaughter operations. He emphasizes the need for protected migration corridors, increased population caps, and the preservation of the bison's genetic integrity against domestication.

The commenter supports listing the Yellowstone Bison as an endangered species due to threats from its small range and culling practices. They also advocate for a population viability study and the expansion of the herd's range to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The commenter expresses strong opposition to the Interagency Bison Management Plan, which they argue facilitates the destruction and excessive hunting of wild bison to benefit the livestock industry. By criticizing the current management practices and the killing of bison, the commenter supports the proposed action to list the Yellowstone Bison as an endangered or threatened species.

An individual is urging the agency to take action to protect the Yellowstone bison, specifically by constructing a wildlife bridge to prevent deaths caused by vehicle collisions. They argue that the bison are in peril and should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Dr. Jean Marie Naples, a physician and public health advocate, supports the protection of endangered buffalo and urges the state of Montana to earmark transportation funding for wildlife passage corridors. The commenter specifically requests infrastructure improvements along US Highway 191/287 in the Hebgen Basin to facilitate safe migration.

Dr. Jean Marie Naples, a physician and public health advocate, strongly supports listing the Yellowstone bison as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The commenter argues that the bison are currently threatened by habitat loss, human development, and a lack of federal protection despite their status as the national mammal.

An individual expresses support for listing the Yellowstone bison as an endangered species. They argue that bison require federal protections due to habitat destruction, slaughter, and the need for migration corridors.