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Bureau of Land Management revokes Montanan’s American Prairie bison leases – Governor Gianforte Praises BLM Decision
January 17, 2026/
Grazing permits granted to the conservation nonprofit as part of its prairie-rewilding initiative have been subject to years of criticism by cattle ranchers and Montana politicians.
In its 2022 record of decision approving American Prairie’s Montana bison grazing plan, the BLM noted that bison grazing is permitted on leases it administers in Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
In September 2025, Gov. Gianforte and the entire federal delegation wrote to Secretary Burgum, highlighting the stalled appeals process and explaining how the issuance of grazing permits to “rewilded” conservation bison undermines Montana’s production livestock industry and the law. Following the Secretary’s assumption of jurisdiction in December, BLM issued the proposed decision to cancel the permits today.
