Are bison wildlife or vermin? In Montana, it's up for debate.

Two bills amounting to nothing less than an extermination campaign against bison are making their way through the Montana state legislature. If these bills pass, it could be disastrous to our efforts to return bison to their historic habitat.

Two more anti-bison bills are on their way this week, and up to six more are being drafted.

We're pulling out all the stops to defeat these bills and we need your help. Please donate today to save bison and other imperiled wildlife.

Among their deadly provisions, these bills:

• Would prohibit reintroduction of wild bison into Montana. This ban would include future reintroductions at the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, the site of last year’s historic return of genetically pure bison to the Great Plains after more than a century;
• Would establish a year-round hunting season for bison, with virtually no limitations;
• Would authorize private landowners to shoot on sight any bison that wandered onto their property;
• Would order state officials to exterminate or move any wild bison that migrate into Montana.

It's been nearly a year since the historic return of 61 genetically pure Yellowstone bison to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, marking the first reintroduction of Yellowstone bison to the Great Plains. As some of the only remaining genetically pure bison, and the only continuously wild herd in the country, Yellowstone bison are essential to the species' recovery.

Now, these Montana bills have the potential to end future bison success stories, such as the planned reintroduction of Yellowstone bison to the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. And they're an insult to Native American tribes who have worked hard to return wild bison to their rightful place in the American landscape.

Working Overtime to Protect and Restore Bison

Defenders of Wildlife is leading efforts in Montana and in Washington, DC to give bison, wolves and endangered wildlife the crucial protection they need to recover.

In the Northern Rockies, our field representatives are working directly with forward-looking state officials to speak up for responsible wildlife management policies. Defenders is working alongside tribal bison managers and councils to restore wild bison to tribal lands, as well as organizing the pro-bison citizens of Montana and encouraging them to speak out on behalf of bison, wolves and other Montana wildlife.

Please help us continue this important work in defense of Montana's bison and endangered wildlife across the country.

Montana's Bison Need your Help!

This is a critical moment for bison, these bills have the potential to end future bison success stories.

Please donate today to support our efforts to protect America's iconic wild creatures.

Sincerely,

Jamie Rappaport Clark President Defenders of Wildlife

defenders@mail.defenders.org