Montana FWP Sets Meetings to Hear Ideas on Bison Management
OutdoorHub 05.15.12
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a series of public meetings this month, including one in Billings, as a first step toward developing a long-term bison conservation and management plan.
The Billings meeting is set for 6-9 p.m. Monday, May 21, at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana Convention Center, 5500 Midland Road.
FWP will develop the bison management plan through a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) that will address issues associated with bison and options for their long-term management as a wildlife species.
It will examine an array of issues and alternatives, including beneficial and adverse environmental, social and economic impacts. Completion is expected to take three years.
FWP will begin a formal public “scoping” process – as required under the Montana Environmental Policy Act – at this month’s meetings to identify issues, effects, public concerns, conservation challenges and opportunities. The comments will help FWP study issues and develop alternatives.
Some issues already identified include:
- Risk of bison spreading disease to domestic livestock.
- Competition between bison and other wildlife.
- Competition between bison and livestock for rangeland.
- Damage to fencing.
- Public safety.
- Legal classification and status of bison in Montana.
Meetings were held Monday in Missoula and Tuesday in Kalispell. Additional meetings are set for:
- Wednesday, May 16 at the Cottonwood Inn, 45 1st Ave. in Glasgow
- Thursday, May 17 at the Montana Wild Outdoor Education Center, 2668 Broadwater Ave. in Helena
- Tuesday, May 22, from 6-9 p.m. at the BLM Miles City Field Office, 111 Garryowen Road.
- Wednesday, May 23 at the Townhouse Inn, 1411 10th Ave. S. in Great Falls.
- Thursday, May 24 at the Holiday Inn, 5 Baxter Lane in Bozeman.
For online information, including research leading to this stage of bison management, log on to FWP’s Web site and navitagate to:
http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/bison/future.html#scoping
