"Montana has been wasting a tremendous natural resource by barring wild bison from our state.

On Friday, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is scheduled to consider a modest proposal to start making productive use of 68 bison from Yellowstone National Park.

These particular bison have been held at a government-run quarantine facility near Gardiner since they were calves. They have repeatedly tested free of any exposure to brucellosis, the disease that had prompted the slaughter of so many other bison that roamed into Montana over the past quarter century.

The Fort Peck and Fort Belknap tribes want these disease-free bison to provide healthy and culturally appropriate sustenance for their people. The tribes should get the bison."

Get the Story:
Gazette opinion: Let's stop wasting disease-free bison (The Billings Gazette 12/5)

Another Opinion:
Jennifer Nitz: State, Yellowstone complicit in buffalo slaughter (The Billings Gazette 12/5)

Also Today:
Schweitzer will not block bison relocation plan (AP 12/5)
Schweitzer says Montana will not allow wild bison shipments (AP 12/2)

Related Stories:
Tribes in Montana hail decision to receive Yellowstone bison (12/1)
Editorial: Bison belong on public, tribal lands in Montana (10/26)
Opinion: Montana aims to move bison to two reservations (10/20)
Tribes seek larger role in Yellowstone bison management (5/18)
Al Jazeera: Fort Peck Tribes battle to restore bison in Montana (3/25)
Opinion: Montana lawmakers try to hinder tribal bison efforts (3/21)