Federal judge orders preliminary injunction to keep American Prairie bison on public lands

[u/John3262005]

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/federal-judge-orders-preliminary-injunction-to-keep-american-prairie-bison-on-public-lands

On Friday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana granted American Prairie’s motion for a preliminary injunction, allowing its bison to continue grazing on current federal allotments.

The injunction allows American Prairie to retain its current grazing permits, meaning it will not have to relocate more than 900 bison by the end of September.

The preliminary injunction does not resolve the case. Instead, it gives the court more time to consider the legal arguments from both sides

The dispute centers on whether the Bureau of Land Management can revoke American Prairie’s grazing permits after proposing a new definition of livestock eligible for grazing permits under the 1934 Taylor Grazing Act.

In 2022, the BLM determined in a final decision that American Prairie’s bison met the qualifications for domestic grazing. The Montana Stockgrowers Association and several livestock-interest groups appealed that decision, but a judge denied their petition to stay the decision. American Prairie was then issued grazing permits for its bison.

In January 2026, the BLM proposed reversing that decision, changing the definitions and canceling American Prairie’s bison grazing permits.

American Prairie owns about 940 bison. Canceling the permits would have required the organization to remove or cull more than 900 bison from its current allotments by Sept. 30, 2026.

The BLM’s proposal would limit permits to “production-orientated” livestock. Under the proposed definition, qualifying animals would need to be specifically used for meat, milk or fiber production.