Audubon to hear about Bison Range plan Sept. 29

Mission Mountain Audubon will host a presentation Thursday, Sept. 29, in Polson on the proposed return of the National Bison Range to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Tribal attorney Brian Upton will present the educational program at 7 p.m. in the Polson Library Meeting Room. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Upton, as well as other tribal staffers, will be on hand to discuss the tribes’ draft legislation to restore the National Bison Range land to federal trust ownership for the tribes. The staff will also discuss some of the related history and background at the Bison Range.

The transfer of the 18,000-acre reserve from the National Wildlife Refuge System would require an act of Congress. Draft legislation being proposed by the tribes was released last week, but has not yet received a sponsor.

It includes requirements for continued bison and wildlife conservation as well as continued public access.