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.

www.americanprairie.org

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

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