Bozeman
Daily Chronicle Op Ed- Award winners named for park bison debacle
by Paul Griffin
April 1, 2004
It
is time to present awards to those involved in slaughtering
wild bison.
Their actions represent the best in dogmatic, unscientific
and political
management of wildlife and they do it with $3 million
a year of your money.
Best Director:
Montana Department of Livestock (DOL). Call 406-444-7323
and
email at livemail@state.mt.us
and heap praise on director Marc Bridges.
Best Supporting Director:
APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
The federal version of DOL. Visit this Web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov
These folks also run the misnamed "Wildlife Services"
that actually traps,
shoots and poisons not only predators but also birds that
have the audacity
to interfere with agriculture.
Best Supporting Politicians:
Call Conrad Burns, Max Baucus, Dennis Rehberg
at 800-839-5276. Call Judy Martz at 406-444-3111
Best Supporting Agencies:
Yellowstone National Park -- Cheryl Matthews, 307-344-2010;
Gallatin National Forest -- Becky Heath, 406-587-6701
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks -- Pat Flowers, 406-994-4042
Funniest Dialog: "The interagency
bison plan made us do it"
Best don't say what you mean line: Lethal
removal. i.e. shot.
Best lie: A tie. Cattle can get brucellosis
from bison. The interagency
bison plan is adaptive.
Best Buck Passing: The Forest Service
refusal to even plan for bison
occupancy on their lands. "The DOL won't allow it.
Our hands are tied."
Best Obstructionist: We have a double
winner! The Forest Service again for
encouraging cattle grazing on lands adjacent to Yellowstone.
Best Supporting Characters: Those that
raise cattle adjacent to Yellowstone
and the slaughter facilities that finish the job.
Paul Griffin
Bozeman
Paul is the Vice President of the Gallatin Wildlife Association