Ted Turner Can Keep Bison Calves, Judge Says

BOZEMAN, Mont. (CN) - Billionaire Ted Turner can keep about 150 calves of the Yellowstone National Park bison that he allowed to graze on his land for five years, a Montana judge ruled.

Gallatin County District Judge Holly Brown dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Western Watersheds Project, the Buffalo Field Campaign, the Gallatin Wildlife Association and the Yellowstone Buffalo Foundation.

The bison advocacy groups challenged the arrangement that the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks made with the media mogul, who owns more than 2 million acres of land, including at least four ranches in Montana.

Turner agreed to let Yellowstone bison graze on his land for five years in exchange for 75 percent of the calves born on his property, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

The advocacy groups argued that the deal violated the public trust by giving Yellowstone bison to a private person for private gain.

Judge Brown dismissed the lawsuit last month, ruling that the FWP has broad decision-making authority when it comes to managing bison.

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