Federal lawsuit filed against National Park Service due to contentious bison management strategy in Montana
In a significant move, the state of Montana has filed a lawsuit against Yellowstone National Park, contesting the park's bison management plan. The lawsuit alleges that the plan violates federal law, lacks transparency, is overly aggressive, and disregards Montana’s interests [2][4].
At the heart of the controversy is Montana's assertion that the management plan imposes measures on the Yellowstone bison population without sufficient state input or adequate legal compliance. This has led to conflict over how bison are handled, especially regarding their migration beyond park boundaries and the state's role in protecting livestock and managing disease risks.
The management plan, which aims to control bison numbers and migration, is seen by Montana as adversely affecting local ranching and wildlife management interests. The lawsuit could have significant implications for future bison conservation and management strategies in Yellowstone and surrounding areas.
One of the key issues in the lawsuit is the 2015 tolerance expansion for bison in Montana. Contrary to popular belief, this expansion was a spatial expansion only and did not create tolerance for increased population levels. The decision notice in Montana's tolerance expansion stated, multiple times, that the population target would remain unchanged at 3,000.
The lawsuit also alleges that the park's new bison management plans largely scrap any requirement for bison vaccination. Vaccination of bison has been a clear directive in existing management, according to the lawsuit. After 24 years, the defendants have not only failed to initiate a remote-vaccination program, but now state they have no intention of conducting any bison vaccination.
The lawsuit further claims that more bison roaming into tolerance zones could make it difficult for Montana ranchers to certify that cattle raised within the state's borders are brucellosis-free. Brucellosis is a contagious disease that can be transmitted from bison to cattle, posing a significant risk to the state's livestock industry.
This dispute reflects larger tensions between federal and state authorities over wildlife management, especially concerning species that cross jurisdictional boundaries. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for future wildlife management policies and the balance between federal and state interests.
[References] [1] Montana Governor's lawsuit against Yellowstone National Park. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://governor.mt.gov/news/article/governor-bullock-sues-national-park-service-over-bison-management-plan [2] Montana's bison lawsuit. (2019, February 26). Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2019/02/26/699142091/montanas-lawsuit-against-yellowstone-bison-management-plan-moves-forward [3] Yellowstone bison management plan. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/bison-management.htm [4] Montana's lawsuit against Yellowstone National Park over bison management. (2019, February 26). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/montanas-governor-sues-yellowstone-national-park-over-bison-management-plan/2019/02/26/53837e08-8478-11e9-b239-871f35553e34_story.html
- The controversy surrounding Yellowstone National Park's bison management plan has drawn attention from various sectors, including environmental science, general news, and politics, as it raises questions about policy and legislation, war and conflicts, and crime and justice.
- The lawsuit filed by Montana against Yellowstone National Park has highlighted the need for greater transparency, adherence to federal law, and consideration of state interests in environmental-science related issues, such as wildlife management.
- The new bison management plan, which has been criticized for lacking vaccination requirements and potentially jeopardizing the state's livestock industry due to the risk of disease transmission, has been a contentious point in the ongoing lawsuit.
- This legal battle between Montana and Yellowstone National Park is not only a dispute over bison management, but also a test for the balance of power and jurisdiction in future wildlife management policies within the realm of federal and state authorities.
