Wyoming legislation seeks conservation fee at Yellowstone to benefit Wyoming, Montana and Idaho

A proposal introduced in the Wyoming Legislature advocates for imposing a fee at Yellowstone National Park to help pay for wildlife conservation efforts in the states surrounding the park.

Sublette County Rep. and cattleman Albert Sommers, the proposed resolution’s primary sponsor, said the idea is to generate money for the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho to deal with issues like wildlife collisions, large-carnivore conflicts and preserving migration routes.

"The idea came up that there’s 4 million people going through Yellowstone National Park every year, and these animals exist in and out of the park, depending on the time of year," Sommers, R-Pinedale, said. "Really, it’s Wyoming’s wildlife, and we have to maintain them and be responsible for impacts that can happen to them and because of them. So why not ask American citizens to pony up and contribute to that?"

http://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/recreation/wyoming-legislation-seeks-conservation-fee-at-yellowstone/article_90235742-592f-5873-9b4c-eeede24536ba.html