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Update from the Field
The temperatures are quickly dropping in the winter
wonderland of West Yellowstone. Just last week Hebgen
Lake was still flowing water; now it is frozen. Everything
around us is covered in beautiful, white snow, which
continues to fall with soundless, peaceful grace. The
days shorten in the waning sunlight. Morning patrols
get off to a frigid start, and afternoon patrols come
home with the dark, sooner each day. Officially, winter
has yet to arrive, but truly, it is already here. How
we respect and admire the shaggy buffalo who can live
in these conditions, standing to face the cold.
It has been a difficult week for the buffalo. We lost
a magnificent bull on Tuesday; the second slaughter
of the season. He had been spending time in an area
called Upper Bear Trap, a small housing development
less than a mile from the border of Yellowstone National
Park. He was hurting no one, destroying no private property,
and threatening no cows. He was simply hungry and needed
to eat. The park provides poor winter habitat for buffalo,
elk, and other wildlife so they migrate to lower elevations
in search of winter forage. Unfortunately for the bull
and the rest of us, one property owner made a call to
change the world for the worse forever. With complaints
of private property concerns, the aggressive Department
of Livestock was called upon to deal with the "problem,"
and so they, along with Fish, Wildlife and Parks, gladly
and immediately came out, harassed the gentle giant,
chased him across the highway on horses and ATVs, and
into the Duck Creek buffalo trap. The National Park
Service was there to help control traffic; tax dollars
hard at work. The big bull spent much of the night in
the confines of the trap, cold and alone. At midnight,
under the cover of darkness, he was loaded onto a trailer
and sent to a slaughterhouse. We deeply mourn his passing.
The DOL has remained in town most of the week, running
recons along the park border, checking for "delinquent"
buffalo that might dare step across the arbitrary, man-made
boundaries that dissect the landscape. They were out
again this morning hazing one buffalo that was already
inside the park's boundaries, pushing him further into
the park. But, perhaps there are some buffalo the DOL
and agents would never find, perhaps there are some
buffalo that might make it out of the park undetected,
into areas in which they haven't been seen in centuries.
Stealthy as they can be when they want to, it's bound
to happen. And maybe, just maybe, there's a buffalo
that might make it all the way to Idaho.
A buffalo in Idaho? On Tuesday, BFC received a call
from a reporter, letting us know that a buffalo had
been spotted 60 miles south of Salmon, in Lemhi County,
Idaho. As of this writing, he's still there. And no
one is really sure where he came from. About 100 miles
in one direction is the closest buffalo ranch; another
100-plus miles in another direction is Yellowstone National
Park. Wherever he came from, he was determined. It is
also still unclear what Idaho Fish & Game plans
to do about it; they have the authority to remove or
kill the buffalo if they want to. Let's hope he'll take
cover and continue his journey to wherever he's going.
Maybe he'll even choose to stick around. They say it's
been nearly 200 years since buffalo were spotted in
the area. Trappers and fur traders of the 1820's were
the last to report large herds in Lemhi County, and
buffalo haven't been seen there since. But just because
we don't see them doesn't mean they aren't there.
With the Buffalo,
~Stephany
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* Thank You for Helping Buffalo
BFC extends a great big thank you to Sam and Sandy for
coming all the way to Southwestern Montana from the
peaceful milds of San Francisco, to brave the frigid
climes of West Yellowstone for the sake of the buffalo.
Your energy, constructive criticism, and direction has
breathed new life into us. We are excited to step back
and look at the bigger picture. Thank you for helping
lay the steps to making it a reality and for all your
support over the years. Thank you also to Glenn and
Joe for being such a big part of this vision. We are
ready to make happen.
We'd also like to thank Bridget for coming to the BFC
presentation at Bryn Mawr College, PA, and for being
inspired to write to the Mt. Airy Times Express in Philadelphia
about the plight of Yellowstone buffalo. Actions like
these get the word to so many people, and we really
thank you for taking the time to help tell the buffalo's
story. Thanks also for sending us a copy of your beautiful
piece!
Many belated thanks also go to Patrick McDonnell, the
brilliant mind and artist behind the cartoon "Mutts."
On October 24, a Yellowstone buffalo got to tell his
story to Mooch and Earl, and also to much of the newspaper-reading
public. Thanks to everyone who has written to us about
this strip, and for sending us a copy. Thank you Patrick,
Mooch, and Earl! For those of you who haven't seen this
brilliant, heart-felt piece, here it is:
http://muttscomics.com/art/dailyarchive.asp?month=10&date=24&year=2004
Thanks to Long Standing Bear Chief of KGPR Great Falls,
for having us as a guest on Spirit Talk. We appreciate
the opportunity and are excited about building a relationship
with you and your listeners in our efforts to protect
the buffalo. Next time, we're coming to Great Falls,
and we can't wait to have you spend time with us here
in the field. See you soon!
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*Buffalo News Story - Please Write a Letter
to the Editor
The Billings Gazette printed an article about the DOL's
hazing, capturing and slaughtering this week. In the
article, the DOL claims to have "successfully"
hazed 110 buffalo back into the park in the past two
months. The truth is that they have continually harassed
the same 15 buffalo who have been leaving the Park looking
for some good grass to eat. Furthermore, they have killed
two bulls under the guise of protecting livestock from
contracting brucellosis, yet, bulls pose zero threat.
Concerns about so-called threats to private property
are also unwarranted, as folks who live in buffalo country
know that one of the only times buffalo "destroy"
property is when they are being chased by the DOL. Letters
to the editor are needed to correct the DOL's misinformation.
To read the article use the link below, and please visit
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
to read BFC's press releases and then click on "Write
a Letter to the Editor" for Billings Gazette
contact information and letter-writing tips. If your
letter is printed, please send us a copy by mail or
email: bfc-media@wildrockies.org;
BFC/Media, P.O. Box 597, W. Yellowstone, MT 59758. Billings
Gazette article: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/11/30/build/wyoming/75-wandering-bison.inc
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* Come Stand with the Buffalo - Volunteers Needed
Buffalo are migrating out of the park, the Department
of Livestock is in the field, and we need YOU to come
stand with us in defense of the buffalo. Winter is upon
us, and as the buffalo migrate out of the park, the
agents lurk in the background, waiting to chase, capture
and slaughter members of America's last wild herd. We
are in need of field volunteers, so if you have ever
considered coming to West Yellowstone, MT to stand in
the buffalo's defense and document actions taken against
them, now is the time to do so. We also need help around
the cabin and office, so please consider arriving whether
you want to be out on skis or indoors. Anyone willing
to stand in defense of our last wild buffalo is always
welcome.
BFC provides room and board to anyone willing to work
in defense of the buffalo. To volunteer or to learn
more about being a BFC volunteer, please email us at
buffalo@wildrockies.org or call 406-646-0070. If you
can't make it in person, but would like to keep us in
the field, please make a monetary or in-kind donation.
Use the mailing address at the end of this email, or
email Su at bfc-programs@wildrockies.org
if you have questions. For more information visit our
new web site at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
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* BFC Wish List
With hundreds of inches of snow on the way and temperatures
already dropping to 20 degrees below zero, we need to
bolster our stock of winter gear. Keep a volunteer warm
by donating:
* Winter hats, gloves, and mittens--
* Sorrel winter boots, liners, and wool socks - warm
feet=happy patrols.
* Polypropylene or capilene long underwear bottoms (NO
COTTON please)
* Heavy wool pants of all sizes (available at most army
surplus stores)
* Gore-tex gators (zip around the lower leg and keep
snow out of boots)
* Snowshoes, cross-country bindings, boots, skis, and
wax
For the Office:
* Postage stamps, packing tape, and office supplies
* Recycled office paper - we need to use 100% post consumer
recycled paper, but the cost is significantly higher.
Consider a gift certificate or a mail order for office
supplies.
* Large, long lasting candles and lamp oil - our power
isn't very consistent during the winter and our tipis
are non-electric. Lamp oil should be odor-free and freeze
proof.
Please call (406) 646-0070 or email buffalo@wildrockies.org
us if you have any questions.
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* Last Words
"Those who wish to pet and baby wildlife love them,
but those who respect their natures and wish to let
them live their natural lives, love them more ."
-Edwin Way Teale
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