The Yellowstone Bison Management Plan lawsuit has emerged as a contentious legal dispute between the state of Montana and Yellowstone National Park over the robust new plan to manage the iconic bison population. This lawsuit highlights the complex balance between wildlife conservation, local economic interests, tribal rights, and regional agricultural concerns. Since the plan’s adoption in 2024, it has sparked fierce opposition from Montana officials while gaining support from conservation groups and Tribal nations eager to protect and restore healthy bison herds.
Yellowstone Bison Management Plan Lawsuit
The state of Montana filed a lawsuit in late 2024 challenging the National Park Service’s (NPS) updated bison management plan for Yellowstone, contending that the plan lacks adequate state consultation and poses risks to cattle from brucellosis, a bacterial disease affecting livestock reproduction. Montana’s lawsuit demands that NPS scale back bison numbers significantly—from approximately 5,400 animals currently roaming the park to 3,000—arguing this reduction is necessary to prevent disease transmission to local ranchers’ cattle.
However, Yellowstone’s plan, a first comprehensive update in 25 years guided by modern science and extensive stakeholder input, calls for a population range of 3,500 to 6,000 bison, allowing more space and improved conservation practices. The plan also enhances tribal opportunities to receive healthy bison to restore herds on reservation lands, highlighting the cultural importance of bison to Indigenous communities.
Background and Stakeholders
Yellowstone’s bison herd represents one of the last genetically pure wild populations in the U.S., playing critical ecological, cultural, and economic roles in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The updated plan followed a lengthy and public process including input from Tribes, conservation organizations, the state of Montana, local communities, and the livestock industry.
Despite extensive consultations and over 27,000 public comments, Montana officials allege that the NPS failed to substantively engage the state during the plan’s development. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte characterized the plan as federal overreach with insufficient collaboration and transparency.
Legal Arguments and Contentions
Montana’s lawsuit contends that the NPS violated federal laws requiring sufficient state consultation and failed to justify the plan’s population targets and management strategies. The state warns that larger bison herds outside the park boundaries could increase brucellosis risks, despite current scientific data showing recent livestock infections originated from elk, not bison.
In contrast, tribal groups, conservation coalitions, and environmental organizations have intervened to defend the plan, arguing it balances ecological health, cultural restoration, and public interests. These groups emphasize the plan’s science-based approach and its role in supporting tribal bison conservation programs.
Impact and Implications
The lawsuit has significant repercussions for wildlife management policy, cultural heritage restoration, and rural economic stability. Aggressive population reduction targets proposed by the state could threaten bison viability and reduce hunting and cultural access opportunities for Tribes and local communities.
The litigation illustrates broader challenges facing wildlife managers in reconciling diverse stakeholder needs within evolving ecological and social contexts.
Current Status and Outlook
The legal battle is active in Montana’s federal district court, with motions and discovery underway. The outcome will influence future bison population management, intergovernmental collaborations, and the role of wildlife in sustaining ecosystem and tribal health.
Conservation advocates urge all parties to prioritize cooperative solutions that safeguard bison heritage, ecological balance, and economic wellbeing.
Conclusion
The Yellowstone Bison Management Plan lawsuit encapsulates the tensions and competing interests in modern wildlife conservation. As the case unfolds, it reflects the critical need for balanced, science-driven policies supported by transparent, inclusive decision-making involving states, Tribes, conservationists, and local communities.
Respecting cultural legacies and ecological realities while addressing economic concerns presents complex yet essential challenges for the future of Yellowstone’s iconic bison and their habitat.
