IBMP Memorandum - Re: Adjustments to 2006-2007 Interagency Bison Management Plan Operating Procedures

On April 10, 2007, Buffalo Field Campaign reported that the hazing of hundreds of bison by the Montana Department of Livestock ignored the Adaptive Change Agreement transcribed below. For your information, here is a text version of the memorandum by the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) Partner Agencies. Click here to read the original IBMP Environmental Impact Statement

I have a permanent link up to the memo along with Buffalo Field Campaign's link to the pdf scan also here.

Memorandum

November 20, 2006

To: Administrative Record

From: Interagency Bison Management Plan Partner Agencies

Re: Adjustments to 2006-2007 Interagency Bison Management Plan
Operating Procedures

Pursuant to the Federal and Montana Records of Decision of December
2000, the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) is to be put into
operation with expected adjustments based on feedback from
implementation of a suite of risk management actions. Based upon
collective evaluation of prevailing management activities and consideration
of the IBMP objectives, the partner agencies have agreed to incorporate the
following into the 2006-2007 IBMP Operating Procedures:

1. Strategic Hazing - Bison outside the park between November 1 and
May 15 that are subject to hazing under the IBMP could be hazed away
from higher risk areas towards area(s) of lower risk outside the park.
The Montana State Veterinarian will retain jurisdiction and discretion to
implement strategic hazing outside the park.

2. Tolerance of Bull Bison - In recognition of guidelines to implement the
Montana bison hunt, bull bison (single to small groups) outside the park
between November 1 and May 15 that are otherwise subject to hazing or
removal under the IBMP, could be tolerated if deemed of low risk to
disease transmission, and public or property safety. The Montana State
Veterinarian will retain jurisdiction and discretion to implement such
tolerance of bull bison outside the park.

3. Bison Population Guideline - As referenced in the Federal and Montana
Records of Decision, a population size of 3,000 bison is defined as a
population indicator to guide implementation of risk management
activities, and is not a target for deliberate population adjustment.

Becki Heath, Forest Supervisor, USFS, Gallatin National Forest - 11-20-06

Jerry Diemer, Associate Regional Director, USDA, Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services - 11-20-06

Pat Flowers, Regional Supervisor, Montana Fish, wildlife and Parks - 11/20/06

Tom Linfield, State Veterinarian, Montana Department of Livestock - 20-Nov-06

Suzanne Lewis, Superintendent, Yellowstone National Park - 11-20-06