| BFC Buffalo Field Campaign
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| Letter
from Jason Johnson |
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My
name is Jason Johnson, and a friend and I from Idaho State University
have come up here to West Yellowstone to work with Buffalo Nations
to help protect the last wild buffalo herd. Our environmental
group at school has been following the buffalo slaughter since
last year. We are here to attempt to keep the buffalo safe as
they make their way out of Yellowstone in search of food.
Last year when the bison crossed the park's borders into the
state of Montana, over 1000 were killed to protect the cattle
from a disease called brucellosis. This disease is an unfounded
justification for the slaughter of our last herd of wild buffalo.
Of the 1100 bison that were slaughtered last winter, a low percentage
tested positive for the disease. Furthermore, it is unclear
scientifically whether brucellosis can even be transmitted in
the wild from bison to cattle. When our last herd of cattle
are threatened maybe some sort of conservation plan will be
necessary then.
We are here as volunteers giving our time and attention to the
preservation of all life. We are not against cattle ranchers
or pastoralists. We are not here looking to make people angry
or to cause confrontation. Rather we are here to witness the
actions of Montana's Department of Livestock, whose job it is
to shoot these buffalo to protect cattle that are not even here
right now. We realize not everyone can come out here to volunteer
their time to see personally what is going on. Please, if you
read these words, take 5 minutes to think about an animal that
is vitally important for all of life. Every creature here on
Earth has a purpose, a job to do to hold a balance within its
own area. We, as people of this land, need to be concerned about
all the creatures here even if we do not see directly the benefits
recieved from their survival. The buffalo is a powerful part
of our spirit here. Help us to save this life. |
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