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Motion to intervene filed in Montana suit over Yellowstone’s plans for America’s national mammal

The return of bison ten years ago to their home on tribal lands at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation has helped restore an ecosystem and tribal culture.

Earthjustice is using the power of the law to restore and recover wildlife — including bison.

Our teams in Bozeman, Montana, and Denver, Colorado, have spent decades fighting to safeguard biodiversity, to advance a just transition to clean energy, and to protect people’s health. We’re pleased to share highlights of our progress, and a glimpse at what’s next.

The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, alongside conservation groups, filed a motion to join a lawsuit to defend Yellowstone National Park’s science-based bison management plan.

Tracking how Earthjustice is holding the Trump administration and Congress accountable — while making progress in states, in public utility commissions, and overseas.

Earthjustice to represent American Prairie in the appeal

Winter foraging north of Yellowstone Park at issue

Bison transfer to Fort Belknap tribes to proceed

Montana judge rejects effort to classify wild bison as“livestock”

Rejects unreasonable demand to return to widespread buffalo slaughter

As wild bison return to the plains, ranchers target them as livestock

Bison safety on prime spring calving grounds at stake

Some extra thunder rumbled into north central Montana, when wild bison finally set hooves on the ground at Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. The return was the culmination of legal efforts to restore the animals to their historic prairie habitat. Members of the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes were eager to receive them.

Rejects unreasonable demand to return to widespread buffalo slaughter

A group of 27 bison occupying privately owned grazing lands outside of Yellowstone National Park’s western border were detained by authorities on May 24. The group of animals included 12 newborn calves, 12 mothers, and three juveniles. The Montana Department of Livestock led the raid with support from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and…

Bison are the only native wildlife species still unnaturally confined to the political boundaries of Yellowstone National Park for any part of the year. In 2008, more than 1,400 bison—about one-third of the current size of Yellowstone’s bison population—were captured and slaughtered by government agencies while leaving Yellowstone in search of food. Federal and state…

Cattle conflict non-existent