In Support of APR

Dear Editor,

Recently a friend handed me a Letter to the Editor written by Ed Butcher, a former State Senator, retired teacher, and outspoken critic of the American Prairie Reserve – the subject of that letter. "Read this, Stan, and tell me what you think," he said with a grin - knowing that I like what APR is doing.

Mr. Butcher's letter was an attack on the American Prairie Reserve, a privately funded, tax-paying enterprise in eastern Montana's dry-land prairie. It isn't competing with agriculture. Rather, APR hopes to diversify and grow Montana's tourism industry.

Spending a weekend there in 2017, I enjoyed learning APR's goals, chatting with staff and hiking through the sage. I nearly stepped on a prairie rattler but it didn't hurt me nor did I hurt it.

And I loved the yurts, scattered through the landscape. Family-ready for a great experience: built to withstand wind and rain, hard sides and floor, running water and indoor plumbing. The rent is cheap, scenery, solitude, night skies and scent of sage – a healing place.

But, yes, I understand why the growing bison herd, protection for all forms of life, including rattle snakes and prairie dogs, has raised the ire of some Montanans.

Central Montana is 'ground zero' for destruction of America's food industry by international investors.

Apparently Mr. Butcher believes APR is part of a clandestine scheme. Conspiracies are hard to refute because there is no evidence. If destroying America's food industry is the goal. acquiring a chunk of Montana's least productive land seems a strange place to start.

APR does not allow predator control so neighboring ranches will not survive as government-protected wolves, bears, lions, etc. slaughter their livestock.

Even while protected, grizzly bears and gray wolves have been controlled by killing, trapping and relocating when they developed a taste for domestic livestock. Montana FWP and federal USDA have budgets and staff for this.

In 1992, a goal of 'eliminating human habitation in Montana' was set at a meeting of 'Earth Summit', a United Nations subgroup and its Agenda 2l. Presidents Clinton and Obama seemed to endorse its goals.

Well, the UN doesn't carry much weight with me. Meanwhile, Montana's population continues growing at about .8 percent a year.

Yes, as Dad taught me, there are two sides to every argument. I hope that, even in this angry time, we can respect each other. I respect Mr. Butcher and the Montanans who share his beliefs. I encourage you to keep an open mind to APR. That's the Montana way.

Sincerely,

Stan Meyer

Great Falls, Mont.

Mr. Meyer is a retired Great Falls businessman, chaired the Montana Fish , Wildlife and Parks Commission, 1993-2001. He was inducted into the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2018.