Hinsdale Family a Brain Trust on Bison Release

Occasionally, as a reporter, you come across a cache of high quality information about a pressing subject of both local and broader significance. The immediate question is what to do with it.

When it comes to the Stoneberg/Holts and the cast of regulars at their storied Horse Ranch south of Hinsdale (MT) at Timber Creek, the answer is clear: Share it, especially when it comes to bison.

Ron and Rose Stoneberg and their daughter Sierra Holt are the sort of Montana conservationist/ranchers (around here the terms can or should be synonymous) who could grace the covers of liberal publications like the Atlantic or the Utne Reader. And this despite their staunch opposition to current plans in circulation to release bison into largely unfenced and unmanaged stretches of land along three sides of their ranch and elsewhere.

The family lives off the grid with the aid of solar and wind power. They typically manage their stock from horseback. They are also scientists of varying stripes and accomplished writers. In other words, they know what they're talking about when it comes to land management in Northeastern Montana.  

The obvious clichés all apply when it comes to tackling bison release. "Easier said than done" is both true and a truism journalistically. "Be careful what you wish for" is appropriate when applied to the subject of American Prairie Reserve proposals to release "wild" bison in our region with next to nothing in the way of a management plan for the high-impact animals.

The latter is especially apt considering the complexities involved for local ranchers and farmers and the tax base that their respective industries represent to communities in the affected region.

As a rule, we like to avoid cliché when writing the news (believe it or not). We also like to deal in specifics. The fact that critical specifics regarding bison release efforts only seem accessible via cake and lemonade with people like Ron, Rose and Sierra should tip off the powers that be (and other journalists) that the brain trust represented by this family and their fellow ranchers should be tapped into comprehensively as quickly as possible. Much hangs in the balance.

Keep an eye out for our coverage of the Stoneberg/Holts and their take on all things related to bison-release over the coming weeks and months.