Bison Range reopens to vehicle traffic

After being closed for four months, federal officials have reopened the National Bison Range.

The announcement, made on the Range’s Facebook page Aug. 11, said the reopening will happen in phases. The first phase will include reopening the auto tour. The Visitor Center will remain closed for now.

The Range is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the auto tour will be open to vehicle visitors. People who want to take the Red Sleep Mountain Drive must begin it no later than 4:30 p.m. The plan is to keep it open until early October, as per normal operations.

The visitor center remains closed, along with the day-use area and trails inside the Range. Portable toilets are in the visitor center parking lot through the summer tourist season.

The eastern Mission Creek Fishing access is open, but well signed for hazards such as potential grizzly bears and bison in the area.

Barricades are being used to close off all facilities within the government quarters and maintenance areas of the Refuge.

Reaction on the Range’s Facebook page ranged from happiness to questioning why it was ever closed. But most were very pleased to be able to enter the Range for a chance to see its wide range of animals and birds, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, bears and bison.

The Range was closed April 9 after the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said operations were suspended “to ensure the health and safety of its visitors and employees in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic and the large increase in visitation experienced at the refuge in recent days that it said prevented effective social distancing.”

The Service posted information on the reopening on its website.

It indicated due to the Range being located entirely inside the boundaries of the Flathead Reservation, it was important to follow the same timeframe as the Tribes when increasing public access to the refuge.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it is following federal, tribal, state, and local public health authority guidance to implement a phased approach to increase public access to the National Bison Range.

In accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and in coordination with the Tribes, the Governor, and local public health authorities, when authorized the National Bison Range will follow the plan below in order to safely increase access.

Second Phase Additions

Allow volunteers and interns to assist the visitor services maintenance program at the Range.

Any donation collections will be done through the fee collection box in the visitor center parking lot.

Third Phase Additions

Open the Visitor Center (with restricted access and hours) using the Visitor Services Manager and volunteers with social distancing still in place and limited contact with the visitors.

Open the Day Use Area and associated trails.

Fee Collection would resume following Secretary of Interior orders.

Visitors are asked to check local conditions on the Range website and call 406-644-2211 for current information.

Officials also requested visitors follow current CDC safe practices by maintaining social distancing, hand washing, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and most importantly, stay home when feeling sick.

For more information visit the FWS Coronavirus webpage.