Victoria Andreozzi Photography, Coeur d'Alene, ID (2026)

05/18/2026

m o a b • u t a h

05/13/2026

It’s no secret that I love bison, so the news of their removal from Montana is pretty hard to digest. To be more specific as to what’s going on, the Trump administration is removing American Prairie’s conservation bison from certain federal public grazing lands to replace those permits with cattle-only grazing. This would displace over 900 bison.

Bison are not a nuisance, they are native to this land. They shaped the Great Plains for thousands of years, long before cattle were brought here. Removing them from their home range while prioritizing non-native livestock feels like another form of colonization, taking a species that belongs here off the land, then replacing it with an industry that has already done so much damage to prairie ecosystems.

So, why should bison stay on our public lands?

🦬 they are native to North America and belong in these landscapes
🦬 their grazing helps restore prairie grasses & supports healthier soil
🦬 their movement, manure, and wallows create habitat for plants, insects, birds, & other wildlife
🦬 they are deeply culturally & spiritually significant to many Indigenous nations
🦬 their near-eradication in the 1800s was not accidental, it was tied to the displacement & oppression of Indigenous peoples
🦬 restoring bison is one way to repair ecological & cultural harm
🦬 public lands should protect native ecosystems, not erase them again for cattle

This is not just about one animal, it’s about land, history, ecology, & respect. Bison are part of the identity and health of the West. They deserve to remain where they belong.

So what can we do? Well, the decision can still be appealed. Contact your reps, the Department of the Interior & BLM. Ask them to reverse the decision & protect bison restoration, prairie ecosystems & Tribal buffalo programs.

📚 A book I highly recommend that I’m currently reading is Buffalo for the Broken Heart by Dan O’Brien. It’s a beautifully written look at what happens when land shaped by cattle begins to heal through the return of buffalo. It explains why bison matter so much, not just as animals, but as part of a living ecosystem, a history, & a possible path toward restoration.