| *
Update from the Field
It has been a trying week for buffalo near the west
boundary of Yellowstone National Park and the BFC volunteers
working to protect them. Four buffalo have been killed
since last Thursday: three bulls at the hands of Montana
Department of Livestock (DOL) agents and one who was
struck and killed by a truck in the darkness Tuesday
night. Our volunteers, too, have been the victims of
violence.
For the past several weeks DOL agents have been baiting
buffalo onto private land adjacent to the park boundary
where they operate the Duck Creek buffalo trap. Shovelling
sweet-smelling hay around and within the trap, the agents
have gotten the buffalo used to venturing between the
park and the trap's steel walls for daily meals. The
same group of six bulls has been doing so for days on
end. This routine was suddenly broken on Monday morning
when the agents rushed out and slammed the trap's gate
shut with all six buffalo inside feeding.
Anyone acquainted with this issue knows that bulls can't
transmit brucellosis, but the DOL is not an agency to
be deterred by mere facts. They tested the bulls for
brucellosis antibodies and sent those to slaughter that
tested positive. Never mind that there are no cattle
within dozens of miles and that there won't be for three
more months or that there has never, in history, been
a single documented instance of wild buffalo transmitting
brucellosis to livestock. Forget that the test used
to determine the buffalo's fate doesn't detect whether
they are actively infected. None of these facts matter
to the agents who bait America's last wild buffalo out
of the world's first national park and slaughter them
to protect imaginary livestock from an unsubstantiated
threat.
Of the six buffalo captured Monday, three tested positive
for brucellosis antibodies. Like any adult human who
had chicken pox as a child, these adult buffalo were
exposed to brucellosis at some point in their lives.
It is highly unlikely that any of the three was still
infected. Yet they were loaded into a cattle trailer
and shipped to slaughter. The three negative testing
buffalo were held in confinement for three days and
two nights, loaded onto a trailer, released on the Horse
Butte Peninsula, and incessantly chased--again for no
reason--for miles by men riding snowmobiles.
But the DOL is not content with the irrational capture,
slaughter, and harassment of six bull buffalo. The agency
also stubbornly insists on removing every last buffalo
from every acre of federal public land outside the park,
a practice which its agents zealously engaged in for
the better part of Tuesday and Wednesday. By the agency's
own accounting, it hazed 127 buffalo back to the park
from Horse Butte on Tuesday (view footage at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org)
and another 47 on Wednesday. What you'd never learn
from the DOL's figures is that the 47 buffalo hazed
Wednesday were some of the very animals hazed Tuesday.
Buffalo know where they want to be and waste no time
getting (or returning) there. Attempting to keep buffalo
within the arbitrary bounds of Yellowstone is like trying
to stop the tide.
Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers were in the field
to witness all of these activities, as we are every
day of the year when buffalo are outside the park. We
have been here now through eight winters, and will remain
until the buffalo are safe. Our perseverance has earned
us the overwhelming respect of the local community.
We were commended this week by countless passersby and
representatives of the fire department for our work
in helping to warn motorists of the presence of buffalo
in the roadway.
And still there are those who, for some reason, begrudge
us or the work we do. One of our volunteers was assaulted
this week and someone loosened the lug nuts on three
of the wheels of one of our patrol cars. The car was
full of volunteers on their way home from patrol when
a wheel started wobbling and making noise. Fortunately,
they had slowed down enough by the time the wheel fell
off and no one was hurt. On Tuesday someone in a blue
truck pulled up to our car patrol at Duck Creek, rolled
down the windows, and shot paintballs at our car.
Our work is to keep the public up-to-date on the buffalo's
plight and informed and involved in decisions affecting
the herd. We will not be deterred by threats or acts
of violence.
Some of you have written us to recommend that we take
a more positive approach, that we look more on the bright
side of things, even that we take a moment to celebrate
the buffalo's "conservation success" being
celebrated with the reissue of the buffalo nickel. Our
job is to share with the world the truth of what we
live through with the buffalo, not to sugar-coat or
paint a gloss over the difficult reality faced by the
buffalo. We will remain true to our mission and keep
you up to date on all actions taken against the buffalo.
While what we report may not always be pretty or easy
to bear, it will always be real.
Please read on for concrete ways in which you can help
us help the buffalo and if you haven't supported our
work with a tax-deductible contribution, please do so
today. We couldn't be here without the support of people
like you.
For the Buffalo,
BFC
----------------------------------
* Comments Needed on Buffalo Quarantine Proposal
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks
(FWP) in cooperation with USDA's Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a notice of intent
to produce an Environmental Assessment (EA) for Phases
II and III of a "bison quarantine feasibility study."
The agencies want to create two more facilities north
of Yellowstone National Park to continue their science
experiment and find out if they can manufacture brucellosis
free buffalo out of calves that survive Phase I (approved
in January 2005). Phase II is described as the breeding
phase where the surviving buffalo females will be "bred"
with some of the surviving males. Phase III is the calving
phase where it will be determined if the buffalo remain
brucellosis free after breeding and calving. Any surviving
buffalo would then be transferred to a "predetermined
release site" and held behind a fence for one more
year as part of a "soft release protocol".
If all goes according to plans, buffalo that survive
the quarantine experiment, after four years of captivity,
repeated testing, controlled breeding, vaccination,
supplemental feed, and other tools of domestication
would be touted as wild buffalo restored to their native
range. The whole experiment would be considered by the
agencies a grand success of the "North American
Wildlife Conservation Model". Consequently, the
truly wild buffalo that remain in Yellowstone National
Park without access to Montana's public lands would
be even more expendable in the agency perspective and
may be subject to an "industrial strength"
version of test, slaughter and quarantine for years
to come.
Speak out against this attempt to domesticate wild Yellowstone
buffalo. Let FWP and APHIS know that these buffalo are
not available for their science projects. The solutions
to restoring wild buffalo to their native range are
rooted in the restoration of migratory corridors where
buffalo can re-inhabit the ancient lands of their ancestors
at their own time and pace. If Montana Fish, Wildlife
& Parks wants to help restore buffalo, then let
them work to create habitat within the Greater Yellowstone
Area for the expanding wild herd. These buffalo are
not domestic cattle. Quarantine is simply not appropriate
or acceptable for the last wild, genetically pure buffalo
in the U.S. Visit our web site at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/legislative/bisonquarantine.html
for more information including the agency's notice of
intent and the EA for Phase I. FWP will be accepting
comments on the proposal until April 15, 2005. Email
your comments to BisonQuarantineEA@mt.gov
or send them to Bison Quarantine EA, Montana Fish, Wildlife
and Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701; fax:
406-444-4952. Contact BFC's Josh Osher with questions:
bfc-advocate@wildrockies.org.
----------------------------------
* Buffalo Wars Part II: BFC to Appear on American
Indian Movement Today
The American Indian Movement's San Diego Chapter has
been a good friend to the Buffalo Field Campaign. We
appeared on their World Talk Radio program "American
Indian Movement Today" in December 2004
for "Buffalo Wars Part I", where we debated
the Montana Department of Livestock's spokesperson Karen
Cooper. Karen met her match that day. You can listen
to a recording of that particular program by visiting
our web site: http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org.
Tune in on Wednesday, March 30 for "Buffalo Wars
Part II." Representatives from Buffalo Field Campaign
will be back on the air to talk about the latest battles
the Yellowstone buffalo herd is facing. The show airs
at 4:00 Mountain Time. You can listen in from your computer
(you need the latest version of Windows Media Player).
All shows are archived. Tune in by
going to http://www.worldtalkradio.com/show.asp?sid=141
Marty Fire Rider and Joseph Red Bear, co-hosts of AIM
Today, are stellar buffalo advocates, helping to spread
the word about the plight of the last wild buffalo.
They provide their listeners (30,000 strong) updates
from the field, they are circulating our petition to
list the Yellowstone herd as a "distinct population
segment" under the Endangered Species Act, they
have been handing out BFC newsletters at various powwows
and gatherings, they submitted a powerful statement
that BFC read before Montana's House and Senate Agriculture
committees that heard testimony on the buffalo neuter
bill, and they continue to be good friends and a powerful
voice for the buffalo. Joseph and Marty are are vocal
warriors who tell the truth about the domination of
the livestock industry and their wanton destruction
of our public lands, and how it effects wild buffalo,
wild horses, and prairie dogs. THANK YOU Joseph
and Marty!!
Learn more about AIM's San Diego Chapter and their outstanding
radio program AIM Today: http://www.aimsandiego.org/
----------------------------------
* Gimme Five! Ways You Can Help Wild Buffalo
It's Spring and that means it's the busiest time for
BFC and the buffalo. Buffalo are on the move, and volunteers,
funding, and action are badly needed. Below are a few
simple but utterly critical things you can do to directly
help the buffalo and keep BFC financially strong and
in the field. Other ways you can help can be found on
our web site.
1. SEND US MONEY! Without your generous
donations, we would not be here. We need your help now.
It costs us about $40 to keep one volunteer in the field
for one week, and we average about 30 volunteers at
any given time. All donations are tax deductible and
go directly towards BFC's grassroots efforts to document
the actions taken against the buffalo, and advocate
for their lasting protection. You can make a secure
on-line donation at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/pcshop2/bazaar.html.
2. VOLUNTEER WITH BFC! Buffalo are
migrating in very large numbers and it's brining them
across the human-drawn line in the sand, into the wicked
arms of danger. Please consider coming to West Yellowstone
and spend time in the field with the buffalo. We need
field volunteers from now until the beginning of June.
Volunteers are provided with room and board. All that
we ask is that you come to one of the most beautiful
places in the world, and stand in defense of the last
wild buffalo. Contact Stuart, BFC Volunteer Coordinator,
at buffalo@wildrockies.org
or 406-646-0070.
3. SAVE THE HERD - SPREAD THE WORD!
Earth Day celebrations and gatherings, pow wows and
festivals are being organized all over the country.
You can help the last wild buffalo by setting up an
information table or handing out BFC's newsletters at
events in and around your community. BFC will send you
the materials. Please contact Stephany at bfc-media@wildrockies.org
if you are able to spread the word about saving this
special herd!
*Anyone out there near Albuquerque, New Mexico? We've
just learned about a huge pow wow, the Gathering of
Nations, that would be an awesome place to talk with
people about the Yellowstone buffalo. If you have the
time, we've got the materials. Gathering of Nations:
http://www.gatheringofnations.com/
4. BOYCOTT THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY:
All of the wild buffalo harassment and slaughter and
the degradation of their native range is due to the
greed of the livestock industry. BFC will conduct a
Week of Action that targets the livestock industry and
their products. We'll provide information about the
history of the cowboy mafia, impacts of cattle ranching,
the link between grocery store purchases and what's
happening to the buffalo, alternative foods, suggested
reading, and much more. We are just about to set the
dates, so stay tuned, but don't wait for us; you can
begin your Boycott of the livestock industry's products
today! Ideas and suggestions, including web site, books,
recipes, etc. should be sent to Stephany at bfc-media@wildrockies.org.
5. MAKE CHANGE WITH BUFFALO NICKELS:
Give Montana's governor your five cents on the buffalo
issue! If you are the proud carrier of any buffalo nickels,
please consider sending them to Governor Brian Schweitzer,
and urge him to purchase habitat in Montana for our
last wild buffalo. More information can be found at
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/actionalerts.html.
----------------------------------
* Last Words
"I've heard a lot of talk about bison are the problem
in this country. I don't feel like the bison or the
elk or any of these other animals are the problem. I
feel like the problem in this country is the overpopulation
of cattle and domesticated animals, what we consider
exotic animals. ... And we see overpopulation of cattle
in this world. We're seeing rain forests cut down in
this world to accommodate cattle, you know, and everything
is centered around accommodating all these domesticated
animals, and all the wild animals and all the indigenous
species are being squeezed out. And, you know, that
upsets me; that upsets my people also. And, you know,
they're the cause, all these domesticated animals. ...
And you know, as far as bison and other wild animals
being the problem, I don't see that as the problem.
I see the introduction of cattle, domesticated animals,
sheep, I see that as the problem, and it just keeps
growing. They just keep multiplying and multiplying."
~ Danny Sam, Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico, in a tribal
consultation meeting with Yellowstone National Park,
June 5, 2003.
Top
of Page
|
