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Update from the Field
July 13, 2006
With the buffalo safe in the interior of Yellowstone
National Park, Buffalo Field Campaign is able to shift
our attention to education and outreach efforts. In
addition to our table in Yellowstone National Park,
we've been busy giving educational tours to visitors,
including several college groups, and planning our annual
road shows. This year, for the first time, we'll be
visiting three distinct regions: the West Coast, the
East Coast, and the Southern Rocky Mountain region.
Our crew of tablers has been in Yellowstone National
Park every day this summer, talking to park visitors
about the buffalo, sharing stories, and letting them
know how they can help protect the buffalo. If you visit
Yellowstone this summer, be sure to stop by our table
near Tower Falls. If you want to volunteer at our table,
call (406) 646-0070 or email: buffalo@wildrockies.org.
While the buffalo may be temporarily safe in the park,
the meddling hands of government never seem to let up.
Montana plans to double the number of bison "hunting"
permits this year, while still refusing to allow the
bison any protected habitat in the state. The comment
period on the expanded hunt ends tomorrow, 7/14/06,
so please read on and send your comments today!
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* URGENT! Bison Hunt Comments Due Tomorrow!
Friday, July 14!
Many thanks to everyone who has already sent in comments
opposing Montana's expanded bison hunt! Tomorrow marks
the deadline for comments, so if you haven't already,
please let Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hear from
you. Gunning buffalo down as they step across the man-made
line from Yellowstone into Montana can hardly be considered
fair or ethical. Wild buffalo are ecologically extinct
in Montana and are treated as vermin when they attempt
to enter the state, yet 100 'tags' may be issued to
gunners to kill them when they cross into Montana. Currently,
there are less than 3,500 wild buffalo remaining in
the United States; this is the Yellowstone herd, yet,
due to strong pressure from the cattle industry, each
year our last wild bison are subjected to hazing, capture,
slaughter, quarantine and now a so-called hunt. Non-hunters
and hunters alike need to join voices to ensure a strong
future for our wild buffalo brethren. Wild buffalo must
be allowed to recover their native habitat, they must
be respected as a valued native wildlife species, and
they must not be "managed" by Montana's Department
of Livestock. Please make your voice heard for the last
wild herd!
For more information, contact information as well as
suggested talking points visit http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/legislative/bisonhuntingbill.html.
If you want to take immediate action, send your comments
now directly to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)
Wildlife Division, Attn: Public Comment, P.O. Box 200701,
Helena, MT 59620-0701, Email: fwpwld@mt.gov.
Please send a copy to bfc-media@wildrockies.org.
Many thanks for standing up for the last wild buffalo.
Please pass this alert on!
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* Bring BFC to Your Community!
It's nearing that time of year again! BFC is preparing
to hit the road and bring the buffalo's story to your
community! Our annual West Coast Road Show will kick
off at the end of August, an all-new Southern Rockies
Road Show will hit the road in September, and the East
Coast Road Show is set to begin in October.
The Road Shows have proven to be an invaluable means
of outreach and fundraising. We connect with many long-term
supporters, meet many beautiful people who are just
learning about the issue for the first time. We are
graced each season by numerous volunteers who attended
presentations or spoke with us during these important
journeys. We also get to see old friends and strengthen
the ties that keep our buffalo family strong. Help us
keep this momentum growing! Please let us know if you
would like to bring BFC to your community.
While the West Coast schedule is already fairly full,
we are still booking East Coast and Southern Rockies
dates. If you can help set up a presentation or know
of events where we can set up an info and advocacy table,
please let us know. Farmer's Markets, festivals, coffee
shops, libraries, community events, colleges, and more
are all possible outlets for sharing our work to save
the last wild buffalo. As we finalize dates and locations
we'll post them on our web site. There will be exiting
buffalo friends accompanying BFC this year, making it
an unforgettable road show season that we can't wait
to share with you!
~ West Coast Road Show
contact Mike Mease at mease@wildrockies.org or 406-646-0070
~ Southern Rockies Road Show
contact Josh Osher at bfc-advocate@wildrockies.org
~ East Coast Road Show
contact Dan Brister or Stephany Seay at dan@wildrockies.org
or bfc-media@wildrockies.org
or call 406-726-5555.
For the Buffalo,
~BFC
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* Last Words
Dear Ed: As you know, the winning design for the Montana
quarter prominently features a bison skull. It seems
rather bleak to me, as if we were announcing to the
world that Montana's glory days, like the once-abundant
herds of buffalo, are a thing of the past. What do you
think? -- Two Bits
Dear TB: It's much more sinister than you can imagine.
I heard that the real purpose of the new design is to
counter all the criticism we were subjected to for allowing
the slaughter of bison that wandered out of Yellowstone
National Park. The hope is that the new quarter will
subtly drive home the idea that, "Hey, we didn't
kill any bison. They were already dead."
From The Billings Gazette, July 9, 2006:
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/07/09/news/local/50-lights.txt
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