| Two
new bison bills have been introduced to the Montana
Legislature, giving lawmakers even more to chew on in
what has been a confusing and contentious situation
for years.
One bill calls for the spaying or castrating of animals
leaving Yellowstone National Park, then shipping them
to Indian reservations.
The second removes some authority over bison from the
Montana Department of Livestock.
The first bill is sponsored by Sen. Gerald Pease, D-Lodge
Grass.
It says the federal government allows neutered bison
to be released outside the park and calls on the Montana
Department of Livestock to do so.
The animals should be transferred "to tribal organizations
without restrictions" to any tribe that has adequate
land and "desires to begin a wild buffalo or bison
herd or increase the tribe's present herd," says
Senate Bill 353.
"If you're getting neutered bison, it's unclear
to me what the intent of the bill is," said Amy
MacNamara, National Parks liaison for the Greater Yellowstone
Coalition.
State government and the tribes would split the cost
of transporting the animals.
About 15 percent of Yellowstone bison carry brucellosis,
and about 50 percent test positive for exposure to the
disease. That's why their presence is so controversial
in Montana. Ranchers fear bison will spread the disease
to cattle, even though that has never happened in the
wild.
The disease is transmitted primarily through contact
with birthing materials, and sometimes through breeding.
Neutered animals would neither have sex nor give birth.
However, brucellosis has been detected in other bison
organs as well.
DOL spokeswoman Karen Cooper said her office had provided
information on what costs the bill would create but
is taking no position on it.
It has its first hearing Wednesday in the Senate Natural
Resources Committee. It doesn't have a fiscal note yet.
The second bill, sponsored by Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman,
would take away some of the authority now exercised
by the DOL.
Any hunting of bison would be run by the Montana Department
of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. That agency would have
to "cooperate" with DOL instead of "consult
and coordinate" with them.
FWP alone would write the rules for any bison hunting
in Montana.
The bill also changes the legal status of bison from
a "species in need of disease control" to
"valued native wildlife in Montana."
Some opponents of bison hunting in Montana have cited
DOL's ability to veto or approve such a hunt as a reason
for their opposition. They say they want bison treated
like wildlife, not like livestock.
"Given that buffalo are wildlife, it does make
sense that they are managed by the state wildlife agency,"
MacNamara said.
Cooper said her office hasn't had time to review that
bill. No hearings have been scheduled for it yet.
A third bill introduced earlier this session by Sen.
Frank Smith, D-Poplar, would allow a bison hunt but
set aside the first 16 tags every year for Indian groups.
Smith said in January, before Pease's bill was introduced,
that he knew it was coming and he expected it to be
be combined with his bill.
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