The warmth of sunshine indicates the promise of spring and newborn calves. Residents of Horse Butte in West Yellowstone watch the bison with delight, understanding that the land on which they reside is home to bison too. These are moments of quiet harmony.
Unfortunately every May, the moments are shattered. Just as the bison calves are starting to frolic around, the Park Service and state of Montana begin hazing the bison, running them back into Yellowstone National Park. For years, bison ranging outside Park boundaries, even those welcomed on private land have been forcefully driven back into the park. Residents tell stories of helicopters chasing lone bulls from the Gallatin National Forest. The scenario is appalling; beloved wildlife being chased out of their traditional habitat.
In the winter, the Park Service uses Stephen’s Creek, a capture facility to imprison bison leaving Yellowstone in search of forage. The bison are brutalized and slaughtered. This season, just over 700 bison have been killed; some through subsistence hunting, but the majority slaughtered. The driving force behind this mistreatment of an American wildlife icon is an unfounded fear of the disease Brucellosis, which may cause cattle to abort. Though bison have been known to carry the disease- originally introduced by the first European cattle-there have been no documented cases of bison transmitting the disease to cattle. Still the fear of the disease has resulted in a management plan focused on containing bison. Yet, elk, who also carry the disease and have been known to transfer it to cattle, roam relatively free in comparison to bison. The actual brucellosis test used by the park doesn't distinguish between antibodies indicating the virus was present and the presence of the active bacteria. As a result bison with a developed immunity to brucellosis are often branded “infected” and slaughtered.
Fortunately, this seasonal loop of hazing and slaughter can change. The Park Service is developing a new Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP). This is our chance to effectively transform Yellowstone bison management. We have a vision for this management, which is outlined in a letter sent to the IBMP partners. Central to the vision are two new goals for the IBMP: conserving Greater Yellowstone bison and managing them as wildlife, and providing for expanded year-round access to habitat for bison outside of Yellowstone National Park.
Seeing a wild American bison is an unforgettable experience- people come from all around the world to witness Yellowstone’s great herds. Yet, the bison population is a mere ghost of what it once was. Bison once roamed the American plains by the millions! Bison play many important roles in both the environment and culture of the Greater Yellowstone region. They are key species, both for the survival of predators and scavengers, and for cultivating the land. Bison graze the land without destroying it. They fertilize the soil, and spread the seeds of grasses and other abundant prairie plants. Even their wallows contribute, providing watering holes for other animals. Bison also have a long and extensively intertwined history with the people native to the Great Plains. Bison shaped the way of life for many tribes, and still hold strong cultural and spiritual significance today. The Bison is an American icon- it deserves to flourish!
-- by Kiersten Iwai and Amber Flores, Our Wild America, Montana