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Update from the Field
Snow has been eluding us here in West Yellowstone, much
like that arctic blast we had expected. Temperatures
have been fluctuating between being unseasonably warm
and very cold, and much of the snow has melted and frozen
solid. These conditions have caused the snow to form
a crust inches thick, and in many places - like the
big hill at Fir Ridge - it has completely turned to
ice. Skiing has been quite treacherous in these conditions,
and this morning, we had to rescue one injured volunteer
from the field.
Volunteers were blessed by the presence of six bulls
that had migrated out of Yellowstone National Park,
along the Madison River corridor, in search of good
winter forage. This is one of the most beautiful places
in the world, frequented by a vast array of wildlife
such as moose, elk, wolves, ravens, eagles, and otters.
The buffalo love this place and their presence makes
it complete. But, although it is public land that was
originally set aside for their use, the fear and greed
of Montana's livestock industry dictates that our last
wild buffalo not be tolerated on the Gallatin National
Forest, or anywhere outside the confines of the Park.
Unfortunately, the cowboy games were afoot in full force
this week.
On Tuesday, while Mike, Josh and Dan were in Helena
gathering with BFC board members and representatives
of Patagonia, to prepare for a meeting with Montana's
new governor (see below), agents arrived to harass the
buffalo. Three agents from the Department of Livestock,
three agents from the U.S. Forest Service, and two National
Park Service agents donned their battle gear, straddled
their snowmobiles, and headed for the Madison to find
the buffalo. Of course, the county sheriff was there
to "help" as needed. As the hazing operation
was underway, patrols documented the crimes against
the buffalo. The six innocent bulls were utterly disrespected,
displaced from their winter range by greedy cowboys
and their federal puppets. Half of the snowmobiles were
ridden by agents who are supposed to be protecting wildlife
and wildlands. Contrary to their mission, Park "Service"
rangers further aided the harassment by firing off cracker
rounds to scare the buffalo. The buffalo were chased
through the hard, crusty snow up steep bluffs, across
the highway, and into the park. As this haze ended,
we got word that the motorized cowboys were heading
to a lone bull that had been relatively hidden in the
willows between Duck and Cougar Creek. They intended
to capture him, but he escaped the path they were attempting
to force him down, and they eventually had no choice
but to push him back into the Park. By the time he crossed
the boundary, he was seen by our patrols stumbling and
panting with exhaustion. Every move the agents made
against the buffalo was captured on film by our volunteers,
and will be used against the agents to let the public
know how they are wasting our tax dollars to harass
and slaughter our last wild buffalo.
Out here in the field, it was a very hard day. The haze
was a first for many, and emotions ran high. We did
have some trouble communicating in the field, due to
our very old radios, yet in spite of this audio challenge,
it was amazing how everyone pulled it together for the
buffalo. These people are dedicated, and we are bound
together in action for the buffalo. And strong hope
remains. Around the time these hazings ended, six BFC
folks were in Helena, inside the office of Governor
Brian Schweitzer. These amazing people had a first-time
opportunity to share with Montana's governor the vision
of wild, free-roaming buffalo. That story is below.
For the Buffalo,
~Stephany
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* BFC Meets with the Governor of Montana
Thank you Mike, Dan, Josh, Flo, Darrell, Ron and Jim!
The Governor's meeting was very successful, and powerful!
The news media saw the Governor's schedule for the day
and showed up in force: AP-Helena, Bozeman Chronicle,
New West (a new online magazine), KUFM Public Radio,
the state's news pool photographer, and a reporter from
Lee Enterprises. Public radio carried a 2-minute piece
with a great quote from Ron Hunter Patagonia. The reporter
said Governor Schweitzer was willing to protect winter
range for the buffalo in West Yellowstone and work towards
restoring Yellowstone bison to tribal lands. Four or
five aides showed up including their policy and communications
people.
Our six-person presentation was strong (and high tech
as the Governor noted). The Governor listened and asked
questions. He was particularly moved by the video shown
of what its like to be a wild buffalo in Montana these
days. That video got to him - I saw it in his eyes.
There is definitely an open line of communication we've
never had before to the Governor's office. And there
is definitely a window of opportunity that we've opened
to change his thinking.
My hat is off to each and everyone of you for pulling
this off - thank you! I count myself as very fortunate
to have been given the opportunity to speak for wild
buffalo to roam free on their native range again, and
very lucky to do so with such great people who are committed
to this vision.
My Best,
Darrell
See pictures from BFC and Patagonia's amazing meeting
with Governor Brian Schweitzer: http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/update0405/012505pics.html
Listen to a radio interview with Patagonia's Ron Hunter:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
Read an article about Schweitzer getting advise on buffalo:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/press0405/news0405/012605.html
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* A Message from Patagonia
Greetings from Ron Hunter and Jim Little of Patagonia.
For those of you unfamiliar with our company's many
environmental efforts, Patagonia encourages its employees
to volunteer with environmental groups for up to two
months with full pay and benefits. We've chosen to brave
the Montana winter for a 10-day stint with BFC - one
of our favorite, on-the-ground, grassroots groups. Here
at BFC camp for about a week now, we joined some 32
fellow volunteers from all over the country (and Germany)
committed to protecting America's last remaining herd
of wild buffalo. We've been out patrolling daily on
skis and snowshoes, as well as helping out around the
cabin by shoveling snow, washing dishes and helping
to devour some truly inspired cooking. It's been unseasonably
warm (we're told), with daytime temperatures up to the
low-40s.
Down at this end of Yellowstone National Park, the buffalo
remain safely inside park boundaries - for the moment.
Nevertheless, agents from Montana's Dept. of Livestock
are here lolling menacingly about at taxpayer expense,
busying themselves behind the wheels of their trucks,
blowing snow and standing about with little to do. As
winter progresses, however, the buffalo will start to
move toward park boundaries in search of forage. When
they unwittingly cross that arbitrary line, the DOL
comes to life, chasing them back into the park on snowmobiles,
trapping and killing them. This is the time volunteers
are especially needed. So if you find yourself with
some down-time this winter or spring, have never experienced
the beauty of Montana and would like to engage in a
meaningful volunteer opportunity with some wonderful
folks, join the BFC on the front line and see what it's
all about. Thanks for reading!
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* Thank You Patagonia
You have kept us warm and dry with years of generous
gear donations. You have also been extremely giving
to us financially. In the past two weeks, we were very
lucky to have Jim and Ron here with us. It was awesome
being out in the field with you, seeing the beautiful
buffalo through your eyes, sharing the vision of buffalo
all over Montana and beyond. Our combined efforts are
making a difference. You helped us put serious pressure
on Montana, so that the buffalo hunt was cancelled.
You put up the funding for our rooms in Helena, so we
would be rested and ready for our meeting with Governor
Schweitzer. You joined us in that meeting, and spoke
from the heart about the importance of the Yellowstone
herd, and what it means to your millions of customers
that the slaughter stops. You have been there for us
and with us a thousand times. BFC could never thank
you enough. But, we'd like to try. Here's a small token
of our appreciation - from all of us at BFC to you,
Patagonia.
Thank you, Patagonia, for really making a difference!
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/patthankyou.html
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* Three Things You Can Do For Buffalo This Week
1. Write to Montana's Governor, Brian
Schweitzer:
It is a "new Montana" as Governor Schweitzer
likes to say. Let that start with wild and free buffalo
in Montana. Share your vision with him, and demonstrate
your support for buffalo being treated with respect
as a wildlife species in Montana; for the Department
of Livestock to remove themselves from buffalo "management";
urge him to scrap his unrealistic plan to remove all
the buffalo from Yellowstone and place them in quarantine,
and urge him to find solutions that involve better management
of cattle, and giving the buffalo room to breath. Let
him know that these buffalo are a treasured asset, and
they belong not to Montana, but to all Americans. Reassure
him that his decision to cancel the hunt was the right
one. Finally, urge him to continue the dialogue with
BFC to find common-sense solutions that will end Montana's
livestock industry-driven buffalo slaughter once and
for all.
You can reach Governor Schweitzer at:
Montana State Capitol
Helena, MT 59620-0801
Phone: 1-406-444-3111
Fax: 1-406-444 5529
E-mail: Governor@state.mt.us
2. Write a Letter to the Editor
The Yellowstone herd has been getting a lot of coverage
in the papers lately, and not all of it has been good.
Issues such as the population of the Yellowstone herd,
the recently approved plan to quarantine and kill 100
buffalo calves, the absence of a Native American voice
in any aspect of buffalo management, the Governor making
the right decision in cancelling the hunt, as well as
his ridiculous plan to rid the Park of all buffalo in
a fruitless effort to eradicate brucellosis must be
addressed with real facts, the real truth, underscored
with the heart-felt emotion these amazing buffalo inspire
in all of us. Please visit our Letters to the Editor
page for tips and contact information for some key newspapers.
We can reach tens of thousands of people - including
decision-makers - with the buffalo's story using this
medium. The time to write to the media is now. http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/lte.html
3. Donate to BFC
Times are hard, and we need your help to keep our volunteers
fed, housed and in the field defending the last wild
herd of buffalo in America. Please consider making a
cash donation to BFC today. It is hard for us to ask,
but the truth is, without your generous donations, we
would not be able to be here with the buffalo. Thank
you for your support!
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* Last Words
"First time around we took care of all the easy
stuff - Indians, buffalo, hills filled with gold - but
this time we're getting serious"
- George C. Custer, IV
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