CORWIN SPRINGS- Maybe it was the setting. Standing on the ground where numerous bison have been shot over the years - land that many are now hoping will be a safe haven for the buffalo wandering out of Yellowstone National Park - Gov. Marc Racicot emotionally told a group of reporters that bison management is the issue on which he spends most of his time. "We're driving every day to find a solution," Racicot said. "It's that important. It's that damn important."

While the governor was not far from his normally even keel, the emotion he displayed was somewhat of a departure from his past demeanor when talking about bison management. He didn't even swear two years ago when an activist dumped a bucket of putrid bison guts on his pants during a meeting in Gardiner. But bison wandering out of the park on the Montana side was an issue Racicot inherited when he took office and it is one of the few areas where the popular governor has been criticized.

Bison, many of which are exposed to the disease brucellosis, often leave the park during the winter in search of food. While scientists have said the risk of transmitting the disease from bison to cattle is small, the cattle industry, which has spent millions of dollars to eradicate the disease from state herds, does not want to take any chances. The disease causes cattle to abort. If Montana cattle were to lose their brucellosis free status, other states may require testing and the state industry could suffer financially. Racicot has said the state is caught in the middle between the Park Service, which allows the bison to leave the park, and federal animal inspectors who could take away Montana's status if bison are allowed in the state.

For years, the result has been that bison leaving the park have been hazed back in, or, failing that, shot on the spot or captured and shipped to slaughter. The state Department of Livestock has received the brunt of the criticism, with some saying the department acts on the whims of industry and its agents are not respectful of the bison. "The DOL is painted with a broad brush. It's not fair and it's not accurate," Racicot said, adding that the agency answers to him. "Don't blame the DOL, blame me," Racicot said. Racicot said the department is working within an interim plan approved by several state and federal agencies as well as a judge.

The state is constantly looking for a solution, the governor said, adding that the nation's animal inspectors need to come to an agreement about the risk of brucellosis transmission and what will be tolerated. "The notion that this is an insensitive process is wrong," he said. "Who would want to choose this process voluntarily?" Those attending Tuesday's ceremony said the acquisition of Church Universal and Triumphant lands will eventually be part of a bison management plan. "This valley will be available for bison," U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt said. "We need to reach an agreement about a common management plan."

But that is a long-term goal, one that probably won't be realized before this winter. In the short term, Racicot said the new public land adjacent to the park can now be considered as a management option. Agencies will likely meet later this month to hammer out any changes in the interim plan. "It's a possibility for our future that we didn't have before," Racicot said.

Top of Page