| Yellowstone Bison Slaughter
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| News
Article 2/18/05 |
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| Bill
divides state bison obligations
By Bob Anez, Associated Press Writer, Helena Independent
Record
2/18/05 |
HELENA
— Bison migrating from Yellowstone National
Park should be managed as any other native wildlife, and
giving Montana's fish and game agency responsibility for
any public hunting is the first step toward that goal,
a state lawmaker said Thursday.
Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman, said his bill would remove
the state Livestock Department from any role in the hunting
of bison. But it would still leave livestock officials
responsible for controlling the animals by other means
when they leave the park.
His measure also would declare the bison ‘‘valued
native wildlife'' and remove from current law references
to the fact that some of the animals carry brucellosis,
a disease ranchers fear could cause cows to abort if transmitted
from bison.
Hal Harper, chief policy adviser to Gov. Brian Schweitzer,
called the bill a ‘‘symbol'' of the administration's
desire to nudge the state's bison management policy toward
one that recognizes the animals as wildlife.
Jeff Hagener, director for the Department of Fish, Wildlife
and Parks, said critics of the way Montana manages the
bison often assail the involvement of the Livestock Department
in handling the animals, and the Wiseman measure would
help address that criticism.
He emphasized the Livestock Department would remain in
charge of managing the bison as part of the state's disease
control efforts, including the agency's practice of hazing,
capturing, testing and killing bison.
However, skeptics were not convinced the changes proposed
in the bill would be wise.
John Bloomquist, spokesman for the Montana Stockgrowers
Association, said the livestock agency must continue to
have a say in how any bison hunts are conducted. To exclude
the agency from that process could jeopardize Montana's
federal brucellosis-free status and prompt state veterinarians
elsewhere to impose sanctions on Montana cattle for fear
they could carry the disease, he warned.
He said the change proposed in the bill would have to
be approved by federal agencies that are part of the joint
bison management plan with the state.
John Youngbird of the Montana Farm Bureau said the bill
creates confusion over which state agency has the lead
in management of the animals.
The 2003 Legislature authorized revival of limited public
hunting of bison, but Schweitzer canceled the initial
hunt this winter because of concerns about potential widespread
criticism of the hunting. The next hunting season is scheduled
for next winter.
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee took no immediate
action on the measure.
The bill is House Bill 544.
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