1. United States
2. Vt.
3. Letter

The Trump administration is moving to evict nearly 1,000 bison from federal grasslands in Montana. Handing the land over to cattle ranchers at heavily subsidized grazing rates. The Trump administration is moving to evict nearly 1,000 bison from federal grasslands in Montana. Handing the land over to cattle ranchers at heavily subsidized grazing rates. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proposed canceling Bureau of Land Management leases held by American Prairie, a conservation nonprofit that has been restoring bison to 63,000 acres in Phillips County. Some of these animals have grazed there, behind secure electric fencing and without incident, for 20 years. Burgum’s reasoning is bison aren’t being raised for “production-oriented purposes,” so they have no legal right to federal land under the 1934 Taylor Grazing Act. Cows, apparently, do. When the bison are gone, cattle ranchers move in paying grazing fees that are roughly 90% cheaper than what private landowners charge. Research shows sustainably managed bison are twice as effective as cattle at increasing native plant diversity and make grasslands more resilient to drought. Bison also support birds, wolves, bears, and dozens of other species across the prairie. This isn’t conservation versus ranching. It’s the federal government choosing who gets subsidized access to public land and bison have been on these lands for centuries longer than any lease. What can We The People do? Please make some noise, this is NOT OK! What can you do to keep the bison safe?