Adopting Alternative D is the environmentally preferred decision we must convince Forest Supervisor Mary C. Erickson to make in the Custer Gallatin Forest Plan revision. Alternative D was made possible because of your comments.

It is now up to all of us to submit comments persuading Supervisor Erickson to select Alternative D and adopt strong standards protecting American bison, bighorn sheep, threatened grizzly bears, wilderness, linkage corridors, habitat connectivity, and water.

Let's write some standards into the Custer Gallatin National Forest Plan:

• The best available scientific information supports strengthening and adopting Alternative D with enforceable standards for American bison, bighorn sheep, and threatened grizzly bears.
• Conserving American bison viability and diversity should be a Forest-wide standard.
• Freedom for American bison to roam National Forest habitat should be a Forest-wide standard.
• Restoring habitat connectivity for American bison should be a Forest-wide standard.
• To restore connectivity, and conserve the viability and diversity of American bison's genetically distinct subpopulations, the Custer Gallatin needs to adopt a standard to close and not permit cattle grazing allotments in American bison range.
• To restore connectivity, and conserve the viability and diversity of native bighorn sheep populations, the Custer Gallatin needs to adopt a standard to not permit domestic sheep grazing in bighorn sheep range.
• The best available scientific information supports including enforceable Forest-wide standards to protect key linkage areas, habitat connectivity, and food security for threatened grizzly bears.
• The Custer Gallatin must adopt a Forest-wide standard for all grazing permits requiring "let-down" fencing and remove barriers that impede migration of native species.
• Adopt a desired condition for the Custer Gallatin to be a leader in the development of wildlife safe passages and measures on highways constructed in migration corridors on the National Forest.
• Restore more wetlands, creek banks, pond edges, and riparian habitat through strong standards and more yearly projects to benefit American bison and native species diversity.
• The Custer Gallatin has a duty to fulfill its responsibilities and trust obligations safeguarding treaty rights, sacred species, sacred sites, and traditional cultural places of significance to aboriginal people.

Thank you for reading and sharing our American bison e-newsletter. Next week you'll receive a last chance to comment message. We'll reactivate our e-news service if there is breaking news, a new action to take, or the Custer Gallatin National Forest releases its Final Environmental Impact Statement (expected in the Winter 2019/2020).

Your comments are invaluable. There is no limit on the number of comments you can make. Fire away!

Nitsíniiyi'taki, Pidamaya, Thank you.

Darrell Geist, habitat coordinator
Buffalo Field Campaign