American Prairie Reserve, Phillips County Agree To Deal On Bison
The American Prairie Reserve and officials in Phillips County have resolved an ongoing dispute after more than four years of discussions.
The dispute has its origins in a controversial APR plan for a 3.5-million acre complex in Phillips County that would have allowed free-roaming bison to be reintroduced without interior fencing and other land management tools.
After years of talks, the Reserve, the Phillips County Conservation District and the Montana Livestock Association agreed to a 10-year deal requiring strict bison testing protocol, vaccination standards, procedures for escaped bison and procedures for public reporting and communication. The agreement was approved in January by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Board of Adjustment unanimously.
Livestock operators have been worried that reintroducing the bison would bring brucellosis because many of the herds in places like Yellowstone Park routinely had positive tests. The compromise was reached as the parties came to an agreement that will last through 2030. The plan will include the following: Disease testing for a total of 325 animals for the first five years and open information sharing between all parties.
According to the agreement, if no disease detected in the first five years, testing will be reduced to 150 animals during the remaining five years of the agreement. All tested bison will be tagged. Protocols are in place for any escaped animals, as well as mandatory brucellosis vaccinations for any pre-yearling heifers.
“In this time of so much division and acrimony — particularly in this issue and this proceeding — that the parties can come together and reach an agreement they can all live with will provide an opportunity to bridge the gap,” said APR’s attorney, Timothy Preso.
Pete Geddes, American Prairie Reserve vice president of external relations, said the biggest issue separating the sides was the number of animals the Reserve would test yearly. He estimates the testing cost to be more than $15,000 annually.
