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Update From the Field
The Montana Deptartment of Livestock (DOL) along with
Park Service Rangers, the local game warden, and United
States Forest Service Law Enforcement have continued
their relentless assault on America's last wild herd
of buffalo this week. After the capture and slaughter
(without brucellosis testing) of a bull buffalo last
Tuesday, the DOL and their puppets have been out harassing
every buffalo stepping outside the borders of Yellowstone
National Park (YNP) on a daily basis. This week, on
two separate occasions, bull buffalo were hazed over
seven miles into YNP from the Horse Butte Peninsula.
Both hazing operations disturbed legal hunters who frequently
hunt elk and deer along the Madison River in the 10,000
plus acres of public land between Horse Butte and YNP.
Formal complaints were made to the DOL and Montana Fish,
Wildlife and Parks about their unnecessary hazing activities.
Unfortunately, these public concerns were only met by
deaf ears and the typical DOL rhetoric.
Bull buffalo are not capable of transmitting brucellosis,
however, the DOL still maintains the unreasonable position
that they do present a risk of transmission and therefore
are not allowed to live freely in Montana. There has
never been a documented case of any wild buffalo transmitting
brucellosis to domestic cattle. In addition to the Horse
Butte hazing operations, the DOL and the other agencies
chased numerous bull buffalo that never left Yellowstone
further into the Park knowing that the buffalo would
return hours later. This unnecessary and useless harassment
is highly detrimental to the health and future of these
bulls who are trying to conserve energy and body fat
in preparation for the harsh winter conditions to come.
Perhaps, weakening these buffalo is the underhanded
strategy of the DOL, effectively killing them outside
of public view.
Numerous small snowstorms have been the pattern over
the past several weeks and the forecast is calling for
more to come. Winter preparations are almost complete,
however, a few more projects still need attention. We
are also running daily patrols with the buffalo and
could use a few more people to be more effective in
the field. The landscape is turning into a winter wonderland
once again with snow clinging to the trees and piling
up on the ground. If you have some time and energy to
come out and be with the buffalo, please contact us
by phone or email. If you are unable to join us, there
are still many ways you can help us and the buffalo.
Please check our current wish list to see if there is
something you have that we need.
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* A Friendly Reminder -- the Buffalo Need Your
Help.
With patrols running full time and Camp running full
tilt again to keep up with all the field, legal, education,
agency and research actions that need to be done to
win this struggle - if you can help out with a donation
(tax deductible) - please consider doing so. Many of
our donors tell us they can't give us any money right
now, because they've put it all into the crucial November
elections. But please consider, we're your advocate
and voice for this ecosystem for the long haul, both
before and after November 2. Please make a contribution
now, as things are tight and know that we will make
every dollar stretch to its fullest in our frugal grassroots
way!! Just go to http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
and hit the donate now button to donate securely online
or send a check to Buffalo Field Campaign, POB 957,
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Thanks you for supporting our efforts. We can't be here
without you!
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* ACTION ALERTS--Help us stop the buffalo hunt
and quarantine!
The assault on our last wild buffalo has ratcheted up
in the past several months with numerous new programs
designed to kill and domesticate the buffalo. Two particular
proposals are up for public comment right now. The state
of Montana is once again trying to "hunt"
buffalo that leave Yellowstone's border. The last time
Montana made this monumental mistake, the State received
a huge black-eye that is still sore fifteen years later.
If buffalo are once again gunned down at the Park's
borders, there is no doubt that Montana along with all
of the State's hunters and outfitting industry will
be negatively affected and will once again be on the
defensive. Comments on Montana's giant step backward
are due November 26. Comment information is available
on our website at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/legislative/huntalert.html.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks along with USDA's Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service have released plans
to capture, quarantine, and slaughter up to 200 buffalo
calves in the next two years. The plan is test a hypothesis
about the effectiveness of brucellosis serologic tests.
We must let the agencies know that Yellowstone's wild
buffalo are not available for science experiments. Comments
are due to Montana, Fish Wildlife and Parks by November
11. Comment information is available on our website
at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/legislative/quarantine.html.
Please take the time to comment on these plans today.
Both the hunt and quarantine proposals are simply efforts
by the agencies to sidestep around providing habitat
for Yellowstone buffalo within the ecosystem. Both programs
will end up costing Montana and federal taxpayers large
sums of money and neither will do anything to accomplish
long-term cooperative solutions.
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BFC Wish List
* Air Compressor - we currently have to drive 16 miles
to West Yellowstone just to fill a tire with air. Help
us save time and money.
* DVD burner - all of our media currently goes out on
VHS. DVD's are higher quality and cheaper to send.
* Recycled paper - we would love to use only 100% post
consumer paper, however, the cost is significantly higher.
Consider a gift certificate or a mail order for office
supplies to help us be greener.
* Medicinal herbs - our supplies are running low, we
need natural medicines to keep us healthy and strong
through the long Yellowstone winters.
* High capacity wet/dry shop vac - you wouldn't believe
how many times big wet things spill.
* Large, long lasting candles and lamp oil - our power
isn't very consistent during the winter and our tipis
are non-electric.
* Snowshoes, cross country skis, bindings, boots and
wax - our stock of winter travel items is getting old
and haggard.
* Polypro or silk long underwear (no cotton please)
- help us stay warm and dry.
* Sorrel style winter boots, liners, and wool socks
- cold feet make for miserable volunteers.
* Heavy wool pants - our rule here is cotton kills.
We need wool pants to stay warm and dry and our volunteers
come in all shapes and sizes.
* Warm hats and gloves - most of your body heat leaves
through your head.
* Moosewood and other cookbooks - our cooks do the best
they can to keep our meals creative, but a few new recipies
would be greatly appreciated by all.
* Please call or email us if you have other stuff that
you think would be useful.
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