Supreme Court upholds Bison Transfer

The Montana Supreme court today cleared the way for wild bison to be transferred to the Fort Belknap Tribe.   The decision reverses a lower court ruling that had blocked state plans to move the bison more than a year ago.

In March 2012, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks released 61 bison for transfer to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.  That contingent included 30 that were to be further moved to Fort Belknap but the latter move was halted when a lower court judge issued a preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by "Citizens for a Balanced Use."

Garritt Voggesser, Director of the National Wildlife Federation's Tribal Partnership Program said "wild bison belong on tribal and public lands and the decision by Montana's Supreme Court validates the public support for bison restoration to their historic range.