Current Events
Its time for "bird law" again!
Check out our first 2023 Legislative Action Alert HERE!
Those of you that follow along with the work of Montana Audubon during the biannual Montana Legislature know that a barrage of bills are on the way that could negatively impact wildlife conservation. To help you connect with the most important issues we will make sure to deliver at least weekly action alerts!
To stay connected with the issues before the Montana Fish & Game Commission, you can track and listen to the meetings here: https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission
Montana’s Grizzly Bear Management Plan!
With the open of 2023, Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on a draft plan and environmental impact statement regarding the state’s management and conservation of grizzly bears across the state.
The plan was informed by existing bear plans and conservation strategies for parts of the state, the federal recovery plan and the work of the Grizzly Bear Advisory Council, appointed by then-Gov. Steve Bullock in 2019.
The new plan would replace two existing plans – those for western Montana and for southwest Montana – with one statewide plan in which FWP commits to maintaining the long-term viability of grizzly bears while prioritizing human safety. The statewide plan will serve as a framework for the management of grizzly bears now and into the future.
You can view and comment on the plan HERE!
Citizen Lobby Day
Come join Montana Conservation Voters, Montana Environmental Information Center, Montana Audubon, Montana Wildlife Federation and other conservation community partners to lobby on important bills related to climate change, wildlife and other conservation issues.
Our fits citizen lobby training will be held on January 19th starting at 10am, location TBD. Coffee and breakfast pastries will available.
Our citizen lobby team will then head up to the Capitol to meet and greet with legislators. Following that, we will head over to watch either the House or Senate floor sessions, and then proceed forward to committee meetings from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Please contact Amy Seaman, [email protected] with any questions or to RSVP!
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 4647, S. 3223) is the bipartisan product of decades of conversations and hard work by dedicated sportsmen, conservationists and business leaders who have long shared an interest in securing the funding needed for state fish and wildlife agencies to reverse population declines for at risk species.
Montana Audubon is part of a nationwide coalition (the Alliance for America’s Fish & Wildlife) to support this visionary conservation bill.
RAWA would redirect $1.3 billion of existing revenue annually to state-led wildlife conservation efforts, effectively allowing the states to more fully implement their State Wildlife Action Plans: 30 million dollars annually would be conveyed to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for wildlife and other conservation uses. This legislation follows the recommendation of a diverse group of energy, business, and conservation leaders and has over 100 co-sponsors from both parties. However, Montana Representative Greg Gianforte has yet to sign on to the bill.
Speak up for Montana’s wildlife and for conservation across the nation!