The Montana Yellowstone bison lawsuit is a significant legal conflict initiated by the State of Montana against Yellowstone National Park and the U.S. National Park Service regarding the management of the park’s iconic bison population. Filed in December 2024 and proceeding through 2025, the lawsuit challenges a new bison management plan put forth by Yellowstone officials aimed at expanding the herd size and improving tolerance for bison outside park boundaries. Montana’s government argues the plan violates federal law, was developed without adequate state consultation, and threatens livestock health and ranching interests by risking increased bison migration and potential brucellosis transmission.
Background and Context
Yellowstone bison are North America’s last wild and genetically pure bison herd, a symbol of the country’s natural heritage and a species with deep cultural significance for many Indigenous tribes. The new bison management plan finalized in June 2024, after years of planning and extensive public and tribal input, sets a population goal range around 5,000 to 6,000 animals, higher than the previous target of roughly 3,000 bison established 30 years ago through court-mediated agreements.
In recent decades, managing Yellowstone bison has been complex, balancing ecological conservation, cultural restoration, public safety, and agricultural concerns. The disease brucellosis—an infection that can affect cattle reproduction—is central to disputes because ranchers fear bison migrating out of the park could spread the disease to livestock.
Key Allegations in the Montana Lawsuit
- Lack of Proper Consultation: Montana alleges the National Park Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act and other federal statutes by failing to engage the state adequately during the development of the new bison management plan.
- Brucellosis Risk Increase: The state claims that allowing a larger herd and broader bison range will increase the chance of brucellosis transmission to cattle, endangering livestock health and economic wellbeing.
- Violation of Historic Agreements: Montana asserts the plan breaches longstanding agreements limiting bison herd size to protect ranching interests.
- Unlawful Federal Overreach: The lawsuit accuses the National Park Service of federal overreach by overriding state and private landowner interests without proper authority or compromise.
Response from Yellowstone and Conservation Groups
Yellowstone National Park and its partners, including Interagency Bison Management Plan collaborators, emphasize that the new plan reflects contemporary science, incorporates input from multiple stakeholders (including Montana), and aims to conserve the bison population sustainably. They argue that the plan keeps brucellosis transmission to livestock at or near zero through rigorous monitoring and management strategies.
Conservation organizations and several Indigenous tribes have intervened in the lawsuit, supporting the National Park’s plan. They highlight the cultural and ecological importance of healthy bison herds and caution that Montana’s demands to drastically reduce the bison population risk undermining restoration efforts and treaty rights.
Legal Proceedings and Current Status
The lawsuit is currently pending in federal district court, with motions being argued concerning the participation of tribal intervenors and requests to pause litigation while environmental assessments are completed. Judge Brian Morris in Montana has overseen initial hearings but has yet to issue a final ruling.
Montana demands enforcement of a herd limit around 3,000 bison, nearly half the population Yellowstone seeks to maintain. This reduction would require aggressive hazing and culling of bison both inside and near the park boundary, sparking conflict among wildlife supporters, ranchers, and tribal groups.
Broader Implications
The lawsuit illustrates the broader challenges of wildlife management on public and private land, especially for species with complex disease ecology and cultural significance. The dispute highlights tensions between conservation biology, agricultural economics, tribal sovereignty, and federalism.
How this case resolves may set precedents impacting the management of not only Yellowstone bison but also other migratory wildlife populations in the American West, with implications for ecosystem health, tribal treaty rights, and agricultural policy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Montana Yellowstone Bison Lawsuit
What is the new bison management plan?
A strategy finalized in 2024 to increase the Yellowstone bison herd to 5,000–6,000 animals and promote tolerance for bison outside park boundaries while mitigating disease risk.
Why is Montana suing Yellowstone?
Montana alleges failure to consult adequately, increased brucellosis risk to livestock, and violation of historic herd size caps.
Who supports Yellowstone’s plan?
Several Indigenous tribes, conservation organizations, and the National Park Service advocate for the plan based on science and cultural restoration goals.
What would Montana’s preferred outcome be?
Reducing the bison herd to approximately 3,000 animals and resuming a more restrictive management approach including culling and hazing.
What is the current status of the lawsuit?
The case is in federal court with motions pending. No final judgments have yet been made.
Conclusion
The Montana Yellowstone bison lawsuit captures the complex intersection of wildlife conservation, state interests, tribal rights, and federal law in managing one of America’s most iconic species. As the legal battle unfolds, it will shape the future of bison management not only in Yellowstone but across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, balancing ecological health with ranching concerns and Indigenous treaty rights.
Finding common ground between stakeholders remains challenging but essential to preserving the bison’s cultural, ecological, and economic legacy for generations to come.
