M3: The Bundy Family

Who was the Bundy Family?

A Nevada cattle ranching family at the center of highly publicized armed standoffs with the U.S. government over grazing rights

Who did the cattle ranch belong to?

Cliven Bundy

Who were the two sons of Cliven Bundy?

Ammon and Randy

What did the USFWS do that started these arguments between them and the Bundy family?

USFWS issued a decision that required BLM  to reduce or revoke ranchers grazing rights on public lands in desert tortoise habitat because desert tortoise were listed as Endangered (1989) and then Threatened later (1990)

Under what conditions, were Ephemeral grazing allowed?

only in years with above average rainfall (and thus, annual plant growth)

What did the BLM do in regards to the Bundy family in 1993?

In 1993, BLM lowers the number of cattle that Bundy was allowed to graze and limits when and how grazing could occur

What did the Bundy family do in protest against the BLM

The Bundy family stopped paying grazing fees, but continued grazing by cattle

What did the BLM do in response to the Bundy’s protest in grazing fees

the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) attempted to round up and seize Cliven Bundy's cattle from public lands

What followed BLM seizing Cliven Bundy’s cattle?

• Hundreds of heavily armed anti-government militia members, states' rights activists, and supporters descended on the Bundy ranch in Bunkerville to block the federal agents.

• The standoff escalated until federal agents backed down and returned the cattle to avoid violence

Who was shot and killed by police after the second standoff ?

LaVoy Finicum

After extensive trialing and arresting, what was the overall outcome?

• all federal charges against Cliven, Ammon, and Ryan Bundy tied to the Nevada standoff were dismissed with prejudice in 2018 due to government misconduct.

• Today, the Bundy family remains grazing their cattle in Nevada while continuing to challenge federal land management