Ep 35 - Bill Hilf - American Prairie Chairman

In this wide-ranging interview, Tom Opre engages Bill Hilf in a candid and often challenging discussion about American Prairie’s mission, strategies, and impacts on the rural communities and ecosystems of the American West. Hilf articulates the organization’s vision to build a massive, continuous nature reserve in Montana, modeled on African-style wildlife preserves. He emphasizes goals around biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and public land access.

Tom presses on contentious issues, including accusations of private land buyouts, impacts on generational ranching families, and concerns over non-local governance and funding. Hilf responds with measured clarity, acknowledging past mistakes while advocating for coexistence and scientific land management.

The interview highlights the ideological and cultural fault lines between conservation-driven rewilding efforts and traditional land stewardship rooted in ranching heritage. Hilf speaks to American Prairie’s future plans, including predator reintroduction and grassland restoration, while Tom underscores the human consequences of such sweeping ecological change.