Bison Belong Here

Bison hold the prairie together—you can help keep them here.

On January 16th, we learned that the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has moved to cancel our bison grazing permits.

read The Coalition of Large TRibes’s (COLT) PRotest

About this BLM’s Decision

The BLM has moved to cancel our bison grazing permits. Should this decision be upheld, we would no longer be permitted to graze bison on federal public land—something we’ve done, with the BLM’s permission, since 2005.

Why did they decide to cancel your permits?

The BLM has moved to cancel our permits because they claim that they do not have the authority under the Taylor Grazing Act to issue grazing permits unless the herd is managed for “production-oriented purposes.” The BLM has said our herd does not meet that “production-oriented” standard. However, “production-oriented purposes” is not a term that is defined anywhere in the Taylor Grazing Act or the BLM’s regulations, and to the best of our knowledge this interpretation has not been previously applied to any other livestock manager on public lands.

What happens next?

On February 6, we submitted a 20-page formal protest explaining why we believe the BLM’s proposed decision is unlawful, factually incorrect, and procedurally flawed. We are not alone in raising concerns. The Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), which represents more than 50 Native American Tribes, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, home to the largest tribally managed bison herd in the U.S., and several concerned parties have also voiced strong opposition to the proposal.

Here’s what you can do to help:

Advocate.

Reach out to your local, state, and federal representatives and tell them why it is important to you to see bison on America’s public lands. Write a letter to the editor, or share this website with your family, friends, and community. And remember, when it comes to issues regarding your public lands, your voice matters.

Stay Informed.

Informed advocacy starts with understanding the issue. When people take time to learn the history and the facts, public dialogue becomes more honest, informed, and constructive. We’ve shared some resources below, and encourage you to do your own research.

Donate.

We want to be upfront: support in moments like this often comes down to resources. As a 100% donor-funded nonprofit, financial contributions are the most direct way to help us care for the herd and make sure our team has the resources they need to tackle whatever comes next.

make a donation

Bison, Montana, and the Taylor Grazing Act

This decision reflects long-standing debates about bison management in Montana, and understanding that history helps clarify what’s at stake. These links offer reporting, interviews, and background to help you learn more about this decision and explore the broader context for yourself.

Read: Billings Gazette “BLM Reverses Bison Decision”

Read: OutDoor Life “BLM Says American Prairie’s Bison Can No Longer Graze on Public Lands”

Read: BLM “About Livestock Grazing on Public Lands”

Listen: Fresh Tracks Weekly “You can’t Graze Here!”

Frequently Asked Questions

If American Prairie is a grasslands conservation group, why do they have a bison herd?

We are working to restore and conserve one of the last remaining shortgrass prairie ecosystems in the world, which makes bison central to our work and our mission. As a keystone species, bison shape the prairie in ways that sustain many other plants and animals, playing an essential ecological role in restoring a fully-functioning prairie ecosystem.

What does this proposed decision mean for American Prairie’s bison herd?

As of right now, we don’t know exactly what this decision could mean for our herd in the long-term. One possible outcome is we are required to graze bison exclusively on our privately owned, deeded acres. What we can say with confidence is that we do not foresee a scenario in which the herd would be significantly reduced in size or eliminated altogether. Our bison team has developed multiple plans, all of which prioritize herd health, safety, and continuity.

What does this mean for American Prairie’s federal grazing leases?

This decision only affects our ability to graze bison on our leased land (i.e., our bison grazing permits). This decision does not affect the leases themselves. We manage 436,587 acres of leased land, all of which are beholden to BLM and state rules and regulations, meaning we are required to graze livestock on all of those public acres. We partner with 25 local cattle ranchers, who graze approximately 8,000 head of cattle across our properties.

Are you going to pursue legal action? If so, what will that look like?

Yes. On February 6th we filed our official letter of protest. The BLM has 45 days to review the protests they received, after which they will issue their final decision. Should they elect to uphold their initial proposal, we will have the opportunity to appeal—kickstarting a longer legal process. We will pursue all legal actions available to us and believe we have an exceptionally strong case.

How does this decision affect American Prairie’s mission and vision?

If this decision is enforced, it will have an effect on our operations, but not on our long-term mission and vision. We may need to install fences we had previously removed and/or move bison onto other properties. It will be an extensive process, requiring significant time and resources.

That said, we don’t anticipate that this decision will affect our goals in the long-term. We will still acquire new properties, remove or replace fencing where we can, increase public access in the region, and continue our restoration work. Our long-term goals for our bison program may have to be adjusted, but keep in mind: bison don’t care whether they are grazing deeded or leased acres. No matter where they end up, our herd will continue to repair and restore ecological processes, playing a huge role in furthering our restoration work and our mission.

I’ve heard ranchers don’t like bison because they spread diseases, is that true?

Yes, it is possible for bison to spread brucellosis to cattle, but it is incredibly rare. In fact, there has never been a documented case of bison spreading brucellosis to a cow in the state of Montana. Even still, we take our disease testing and fencing protocols very seriously. Since being re-introduced in 2005, we have had no instances of our bison spreading disease to cows, or any other animal. Any bison we import are sourced from brucellosis-free herds, and we do an annual roundup of our animals to conduct disease testing. We not only conduct tests mandated by the state, but a few extra for our peace-of-mind because the clinical health of our bison is important not only for our herd, but also for the safety of all of our neighbor’s cattle.

Curious to see what it looks like when we handle our bison? Here’s a video from the archives!

Are American Prairie’s bison fenced?

Yes, our bison currently roam two fenced-in allotments totaling 48,000 acres. Those electric fences help us keep our herd safe, and make sure they don’t wander onto neighboring ranches.

Are American Prairie’s bison wild?

No, our bison are not wild animals. In fact, in the state of Montana, all bison — except those in Yellowstone National Park and on Tribal land — are legally classified as livestock. This means we are beholden to the same rules and regulations as every other livestock manager in the state. We pride ourselves on being able to faithfully adhere to these regulations, while also respecting the wild nature of the herd. From low stress handling techniques, to custom built handling facilities, and management decisions rooted in prioritizing ecosystem health, our team goes above and beyond when it comes to caring for our herd while making sure we uphold our obligations as livestock managers.

Why were American Prairie’s bison on federal public land to begin with? Is that common?

When we acquire a new property, it is most commonly a combination of deeded (private) acres and neighboring public lands. Those neighboring public lands come with federal grazing privileges, a system that has been in place since 1934 with the passage of the Taylor Grazing Act.

Many working ranches rely on a mix of private land and leased public land to operate at a viable scale. While these federal grazing leases are most often used for cattle, they are not limited to cattle. Grazing permittees can request a change of use to graze other types of livestock, including sheep, goats, burros, and in our case, bison.

Our bison were on these public lands because the Bureau of Land Management reviewed and approved our change-of-use requests. Their presence there was authorized, permitted, and consistent with how public-private ranching operations function across Montana.

Was this decision made because American Prairie was not in good standing with the BLM or state Department of Livestock?

No. We have consistently met BLM permit and State lease obligations– including paying fees and maintaining rangeland, soil, and riparian health– and faithfully complied with all other permit requirements. We also exceed the legal requirements for disease testing by the Montana Department of Livestock, and allocate a significant amount of time and funding to build and maintain fences.

Why should American Prairie’s bison be allowed to graze year-round when the standard practice for cattle is rotational grazing?

Any rancher is allowed to apply for year-round grazing, provided they can meet rangeland health standards. Because plants and animals of the mixed-grass prairie co-evolved with bison for thousands of years, the transition back to bison offers an evolutionarily-tested means to help the BLM meet and exceed the five standards for rangeland health.

In addition, science shows that at low to moderate stocking levels, rangeland health can be maintained with year-long grazing. Due to the potential for drought in the region, American Prairie’s bison stocking rates land is calculated using the Natural Resource Conservation System (NRCS) method for low moisture years. Furthermore, all BLM permittees and State lessees (including American Prairie) are required to meet rangeland health standards regardless of the class of livestock or grazing system/season.

American Prairie is a nonprofit organization working to connect, conserve, and share one of the last remaining shortgrass prairie ecosystems in the world.

American Prairie: What We Do

Connect: We strategically purchase small parcels of private land that sit between large areas of existing public land, like the 1.1 million–acre Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. By linking these pieces together we are helping build one of the largest connected prairie ecosystems in the world — a landscape big enough for wildlife, grasslands, and people to thrive.

Conserve: The prairie ecosystem depends on native wildlife, and our approach is simple: if you build it, they will come. While only federal agencies can manage wildlife directly, we can restore the habitat wildlife depends on by removing old fencing and debris, improving grasslands and waterways, reducing disease threats, and managing a conservation bison herd. By rebuilding the ecological foundation of the prairie, we help create a home for native wildlife when they return.

Share: Virtually all of our land is open to the public. As we connect larger swaths of public and accessible land, we expand opportunities for people to explore one of America’s last great wide-open landscapes. Today, visitors can hike, camp, hunt, and explore more than 600,000 acres of publicly accessible prairie—because we believe everyone should have access to a wild and wide-open prairie.

Wild About Our Bison Program

Bison are essential to restoring a healthy, fully functioning shortgrass prairie.

As a keystone species, they shape the land through grazing, movement, and natural behaviors that create habitat diversity and support a wide range of life on the prairie. Their return marks not just the comeback of an iconic animal, but the restoration of the ecological processes that make the prairie work.

Bison are at the center of our restoration efforts because no other species can do what they do. Their selective grazing creates a mosaic of plant communities, their wallows form temporary prairie wetlands, and their presence supports birds, herbivores, and carnivores alike. Today, our herd of more than 900 bison is actively returning these processes to the prairie.

Our bison program is recognized for its leadership in bison conservation, rooted in a management philosophy that balances responsibility with respect.

All bison in the state of Montana (except for those in Yellowstone and on Tribal land) are classified as livestock. We are fully committed to managing our herd in accordance with all state and federal regulations, including disease testing, health monitoring, and fencing requirements. We source animals from disease-free conservation herds and carefully manage genetics to support long-term herd health.

At the same time, we are committed to honoring the wild nature of bison and their role in the larger prairie ecosystem. Our team goes beyond minimum requirements to prioritize low-stress handling, natural movement patterns, and management strategies that allow bison to behave like bison. This commitment—to meeting regulatory standards while preserving natural bison behavior—is what makes our program exceptional and allows our bison to do what they have always done best: shape and restore the prairie.

Wild About Working Together

Conservation at this scale is never the result of just one organization. Our vision is a large, collaboratively managed, thriving grassland prairie.

At American Prairie, we understand that conservation requires community. Our ability to conserve and restore Montana’s Northern Great Plains is made possible through the collaboration and hard work of all kinds of folks—from land managers and agencies, scientists, and researchers, to local landowners, and neighboring Indigenous communities.

That collaboration looks like:

Leasing our grass to 25 local ranchers through our Leasing Program

Sending more than 600 bison to tribal conservation herds

Rent-for-wildlife contracts and wildlife-friendly fencing through our Wild Sky program

Collaborating with Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to further grasslands research and science-based conservation strategies across the U.S.

Supporting Fort Belknap’s tourism efforts by contracting with guides to provide American Prairie visitors with cultural interpretation on and of the prairie

Wild About Public Access

At American Prairie, we believe that both wildlife and people benefit from access to wild and wide-open spaces.

As Montanans, our lives have been enriched by public lands and public access, and we are proud to contribute to that long and important state legacy. From the trails we’ve walked, the wildlife we’ve watched, and the wide horizons in our own backyards, we’ve experienced the benefits of public access firsthand, and we’re committed to ensuring others can too.

Our land is always open to the public. Every year we welcome thousands of visitors who enjoy activities ranging from wildlife watching and wandering, to hiking, hunting, biking, paddling, and horseback riding. We offer several seasonal and year-round hut, campground, and dispersed camping options, and we enroll 82,000 acres in the FWP’s Block Management hunter access program (BMA), making us one of Montana’s top five BMA participants by acre.

Visit our website to plan your next prairie adventure.