Efforts by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to exclude bison from federally managed grazing lands were halted by a U.S. District Court ruling, impacting federal and state officials’ stance on the definition of “livestock.” The court’s decision granted American Prairie a temporary restraining order, allowing over 300 bison to remain on Montana grazing allotments. Federal and state authorities had contended that bison did not qualify as “livestock” under the Taylor Grazing Act, arguing for their removal by September 30.
The 29-page ruling highlighted the BLM’s inconsistent application of livestock definitions, which failed to account for production-oriented bison operations. “No statutory language or judicial precedent exists that requires a livestock operation to focus exclusively on production,” wrote Judge Brian Morris. The American Prairie, renowned as one of the largest nature reserves in the U.S., manages nearly 1,000 bison and 8,000 cattle in north-central Montana.
Alison Fox, CEO of American Prairie, praised the ruling, emphasizing its importance for bison conservation and partnerships with Tribal organizations. The legal dispute commenced when American Prairie sought to use seven federal allotments in 2019, which was approved in 2022 but later overturned in 2025 by the Trump administration. Montana officials, including Attorney General Austin Knudsen, opposed the permits, citing threats to local ranching communities.
Judge Morris noted that both BLM and Montana law recognize bison as livestock, subject to federal regulations and fees. Despite changing administrative positions, the court found no legal basis for excluding bison as livestock. BLM initially authorized federal grazing allotments for bison in several states, including Colorado and Wyoming.
American Prairie argued that the BLM’s reversal would necessitate removing or relocating about 300 bison, incurring significant financial costs. The court’s decision underscores the balance between traditional livestock practices and conservation efforts. BLM and Montana state offices did not comment on the ruling.
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