Montana Sues Over Yellowstone's Plan to Boost Bison Herd to 6,000

[{"selector":"#anim-dc4eacd1-e66f-4ca7-9003-877893befaa9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff969030-b12f-41b4-bb72-b7bd19e32be4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-664da5ea-3dd0-4d85-b886-b47b0630fb72","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-048c6f40-be07-4f91-a0bf-87a789a9bb74","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.30098%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Montana Sues Over Yellowstone's Plan to Boost Bison Herd to 6,000 Rahul Somvanshi

Montana Governor Gianforte wages legal battle against Yellowstone's new bison management plan, challenging federal authority over population control.

[{"selector":"#anim-d4a62a9d-54c5-42f9-ac2c-218ccc991b53","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ac6f764-4db2-4040-b1e5-19db291911f1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 164.01430%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8fe20a8-e175-4d23-9abe-67b8fa1ca4cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10184225-fc1b-478b-b014-a096ad9754db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f6c622e-dea5-427d-9b32-338e126e4dd1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Chait Goli (Pexels)

Yellowstone's controversial plan aims to maintain 3,500-6,000 bison, significantly higher than Montana's desired 3,000 cap for disease management.

[{"selector":"#anim-248f6c03-f2c3-4915-a897-42bd499c80f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1cd2605-ed8c-44ea-b8c1-f12cc6255438","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5efa971-0379-4be5-9aa0-fcb45f99cfd5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-251fd8bc-33f2-42c3-9b9e-10fdd2f128c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ed9aca8-7d59-4771-add8-cd261bf45a45","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Musicaline (CC BY-SA 4.0)

State officials claim the National Park Service rushed the planning process, giving Montana only 11 days for preliminary comments despite longstanding tensions.

[{"selector":"#anim-81f38b8a-3f51-41ce-b051-518d345bb504","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9edff4ee-b715-4e4f-9f0d-4e2601d54030","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 164.01430%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c111a02a-f0f4-416d-9fb2-b3ca189430a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c407510-bc24-47d6-ae15-0ec978f6f3ed","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-339ad1dd-317c-4220-9a2d-777e6b3b3500","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Yellowstone Park Service (PDM 1.0)

While Montana restricts bison movement due to brucellosis concerns, research shows elk transmitted the disease to cattle multiple times since 2000.

[{"selector":"#anim-411c4b7f-cc32-4bac-929a-dda1a5f534f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08c16dcb-34c9-4990-9cdf-f3bb0d9d1b0f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79a9adcc-4f02-4f19-8105-55cd1103b6bb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e22a86d1-5692-4138-b840-1e401d87ce32","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0329b596-be1b-4581-86dc-f85296116592","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source : Arturo de Frias Marques (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The 51-page lawsuit alleges violations of federal environmental laws and demands nullification of the plan, citing lack of meaningful consultation.

[{"selector":"#anim-3987e04b-0ba8-439c-9d78-36e9e39cbd36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47d2f055-730e-46ef-952d-8d1a64e40ea9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3dfdb550-3646-483e-9d9d-847af1d15e4f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58b53ef5-3700-4a8d-b354-66b499355316","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.72714%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-438b60ea-06be-462e-9968-4f32933efbcd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Sora Shimazaki (Pexels)

Tribal hunters with treaty rights emerge as primary predators of Yellowstone bison, alongside capture operations for slaughter and quarantine programs.

[{"selector":"#anim-64dfc106-07cc-4d8f-871a-64dc80a9c675","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b36bead-8ae0-48f4-a455-24e833ecdcbe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7dfba7a-5dec-473b-9cdb-97ff4cf9c8b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-abd1f7ae-ca1c-458e-ad53-625ef4695593","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23463504-2955-4526-a524-5276432e97f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Frank Schulenburg (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Montana's lawsuit challenges increased bison transfers to tribal lands, a key initiative under Biden administration's wildlife conservation efforts.

[{"selector":"#anim-d451d39a-9391-4fb8-995e-f5c0b8e086b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84161463-3ac7-4319-9436-95dd764162ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bdb4e2b8-cf43-433a-be49-8fef7825e149","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0697317c-61ea-4ee8-afc4-f6fb8ebd3108","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.72714%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45e3cc2a-8144-4858-992f-cd29da874e38","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Yellowstone Nat (PDM 1.0)

Eight treaty tribes and one federally chartered tribal organization currently manage Yellowstone bison, highlighting complex jurisdictional challenges

[{"selector":"#anim-08fd9e24-e9fb-44c4-b2c0-550739804e5a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af0d5898-8120-49cb-ae24-bb6f6eb73d90","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09a4f60d-a52c-4e15-8b18-16443757d963","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ff2813c-cc24-4ec8-a3b5-5a0ff1be067d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3cabdcc-f0a6-4fc6-b1eb-6235eb7e0823","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Azurfrog (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly states he offered Montana opportunities to present alternative management strategies during the planning process.

[{"selector":"#anim-345a65e5-102f-44fd-97b8-55ab096eabc5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a809da05-9e97-4688-af6a-9b5bc1f14757","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.94980%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3aba455b-25c5-4dde-94fe-9a4448e2d566","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-411f0b74-3c1d-4f1d-a7b2-47bc59503f37","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.72714%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8f75025-29a9-45d1-9d0e-57c0df740580","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Yellowstone National Park (PDM 1.0 )

[{"selector":"#anim-b2692519-b777-4390-9a3d-d4932cfb815c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6a6f0f9-07c2-4b4e-bd24-944a1905dbd4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6e42117-cf0e-4c98-81a2-2023557eddc0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac17a2ae-03b5-4e9e-866d-bf6af1ca5a25","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d904ee2-56dd-43ad-b5da-cb5ba177cfe3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Catalina's Bison Herd Shrinks from 600 to 80 Learn more