爆料公社 and Partners Announce First Bird-Friendly Certified Bison Ranch in Montana
North Bridger Bison ranch in Shields Valley, Montana is using bison to boost birds.
Wilsall, Mont. 鈥 The 爆料公社 has partnered with Montana 爆料公社 to award its bird-friendly habitat certification to North Bridger Bison. Founded, owned, and operated by Matt and Sarah Skoglund, North Bridger Bison is the first bison ranch in Montana to earn the 爆料公社 Certified bird-friendly designation. With this, North Bridger Bison can use the 爆料公社 Certified bird-friendly seal, a product label that lets consumers know that these products come from bison that grazed on ranches managed for birds and biodiversity.
The certification is earned through 爆料公社 Conservation Ranching, 爆料公社鈥檚 flagship grassland habitat initiative, which is a collaborative effort between ranchers and 爆料公社 to address the decline of grassland bird populations. Over 100 ranches, encompassing nearly 3 million acres, have earned 爆料公社 Certified status nationwide. This includes 16 ranches and about 140,000 acres in Montana. The land certification distinguishes wildlife-focused grassland management and recognizes rotational bison or cattle grazing that creates a mosaic of habitat for grassland birds.
In Big Sky country, 爆料公社 partners with on Conservation Ranching. The independent organization takes the lead in working with Montana ranchers on all aspects of the program, including enrollment, habitat projects, and bird and environmental monitoring.
Matt and Sarah Skoglund started in 2018. Instituting intensive, rotational grazing with their bison herd, their number one goal is to increase the health of the land each year. 鈥淭he bison on our ranch help build soil, improve the quality of the soil, increase the amount of water retained in the ground, increase the amount and diversity of the grasses, forbs, and wildflowers on the landscape 鈥 which helps birds, wildlife, and our bison 鈥 and helps reduce climate change through carbon storage in the soil,鈥 Matt Skoglund said. In 2022, the Skoglunds put the ranch into a conservation easement with the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, which protects the ranch from development forever.
Christian Meny, Director of Conservation and head of the Conservation Ranching program for Montana 爆料公社, says the formula of rotational grazing works because it鈥檚 modeled on how native bison herds once roamed and foraged. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like quilting, but with the land,鈥 Meny says. 鈥淲e want to stitch together areas that have been freshly grazed, areas that were grazed a month ago, and areas that haven鈥檛 been grazed all year. With this patchwork of habitat, we can benefit the biggest array of grassland bird species and other wildlife.鈥
Meny says that at North Bridger Bison, the uplands provide habitat for dry country songbirds like Vesper Sparrows and Western Meadowlarks; upland gamebirds including Greater Sage-Grouse and Sharp-tailed Grouse; and raptors like Prairie Falcons and American Kestrel. Shorebirds like Long-billed Curlews and Upland Sandpipers are other species dependent on these grassland areas in addition to the 55 acres of wetland habitat on the ranch.
For more information about 爆料公社 Conservation Ranching in Montana, contact Christian Meny at cmeny@mtaudubon.org. For information in other states, please contact ConservationRanching@爆料公社.org.
###
About 爆料公社 Conservation Ranching
A wildlife habitat initiative of the 爆料公社 with a unique market front, 爆料公社 Conservation Ranching aims to stabilize declining grassland bird populations in partnership with ranchers 鈥 on whose land 95 percent of grassland birds live. 爆料公社 Conservation Ranching鈥檚 enrollment includes over 100 ranches and nearly 3 million acres that have earned status as 爆料公社 Certified bird-friendly land. Incentivizing this habitat work for birds and biodiversity are consumers with an appetite for conservation, who support it with the purchase of products grazed on these lands. Shoppers see a special package designation 鈥 the 爆料公社 Certified bird-friendly seal 鈥 that sets these products apart. For more information, visit .
About Montana 爆料公社
Founded in 1976, Montana 爆料公社 is an independent, statewide conservation organization whose mission is to promote appreciation, knowledge, and conservation of Montana鈥檚 native birds, other wildlife, and natural ecosystems and to safeguard biological diversity for current and future generations. We seek to create an environment in which all of Montana鈥檚 native bird species have healthy, sustainable populations, ensured by long-term habitat security. Montana 爆料公社 uses science, conservation education, and engages in public policy work to protect our state鈥檚 incomparable wildlife and landscapes. Learn more at and follow us on social media @montanaaudubon.