In this episode, I interview Alison Fox, executive director of American Prairie, about the organization’s 25-year effort to build a 3.2-million-acre grassland reserve anchored by the 1.1-million-acre Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. Ali describes on-the-ground restoration including a bison herd grown from 16 animals to nearly 1,000, fence modification/removal, stream work, junk removal, and prairie dog restoration, plus wildlife successes like swift fox reintroduction and grizzly sightings. Our conversation centers on BLM’s proposed reversal of a 2022 decision allowing bison grazing on seven allotments they lease in Phillips County, introducing a new “production” standard under the Taylor Grazing Act that could affect other bison permittees and tribal herds; American Prairie has protested and is preparing further challenges while contingency-planning for herd relocation. Ali also discuss public access and hunting programs, local reactions and misconceptions, donor criticism, tribal partnerships, and a closing invitation to visit the reserve and the importance of public lands.
03:33 Meet Alison Fox
04:27 Alison’s Background and Montana
05:51 American Prairie Mission
06:45 Origins and Why Grasslands Matter
08:03 Acreage Breakdown and BLM Leases
09:25 On the Ground Restoration Work
11:39 Wildlife Comebacks Swift Fox
13:23 Rewilding and Grizzly Return
15:57 Land Acquisition and Ranching Leases
17:48 Anchor Ranch and Public Access
20:20 BLM Move to Rescind Bison Grazing
24:33 Taylor Grazing Act Production Standard
27:01 Precedent Risks and Next Steps
28:42 Contingency Plans
30:39 Cattle Only Permit Shift
31:05 State Land Legal Fight
31:47 Tribal Partnerships
35:20 Stocking Rate Decisions
36:08 Bison Versus Cattle
38:10 Donors And Transparency
41:55 Local Reception And Critics
44:01 Hunting Access Programs
46:05 Dispelling Bison Myths
49:13 Negative Bison Easements
50:15 Working With BLM
50:50 Visit American Prairie
51:54 Why Public Lands Matter
