Time for property owners to unite and let voices be heard

Dear Editor,

I am encouraging everyone to thoroughly read the American Prairie Reserve (APR) website as well as its “sister” organization, the Friends of the American Serengeti (FoAS) website, an independent, tax-privileged organization in Germany that was formed to help provide funding for the APR. These two organizations have raised millions of dollars to buy land in Fergus, Petroleum, Phillips and Valley counties in Montana. Their next goal is to take down all of the fences on the BLM land they have leases on and have bison graze on the land for 12 months (something the ranchers cannot do). They intend to keep the bison within their boundary lines by using a 42” fence that has the second wire from the top electrified by solar panels. This wildlife friendly fence will allow antelope (as well as baby bison) to crawl under the fence and the deer and elk to go over it. Please note that a bison can jump 6’ and is strong willed enough to go over or through this fence.

Please take time to look at the photos and brief bios of the APR staff, the very wealthy people who serve on the Board of Directors (most of them live out of state) and also look at some of their members (83% live outside of MT). The APR has a very detailed column on their website that instructs these people how to write scoping comments to the BLM regarding the change in the APR’s leasing agreement with the BLM.

Check out the very exclusive Kestrel Camp where the rich and famous from around the world stay. The five yurts and social lounge are very luxurious. An executive chef prepares gourmet meals for the guests who pay $1,000 per person per night. No doubt they are served APR’s Wild Sky Beef and enjoy drinking the American Prairie Reserve Bourbon. The guests travel in customized four-wheel-drive Mercedes Sprinter vans with captain chairs in a stadium-stepped incline so they all have a wonderful view as their personal naturalists guide the way.

Look at the APR’s 2016 990 income tax form and learn that Sean Gerrity earned $249,000 in salary. It makes me wonder why he and the APR continue to beg for volunteers to do manual labor such as removing fences, old buildings and working on trails.

It is time for the property owners of Fergus, Phillips, Petroleum and Valley counties to unite together and let our voices be heard regarding the APR’s proposal to the BLM.

Eileen L. Hastad

Fergus County Landowner

Moorhead, Minn.