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Update from the Field
Dear Buffalo Friends,
The northern boundary of Yellowstone has seen little
activity in the past two weeks, and it seems that the
buffalo have had quite enough of being harassed by Park
wranglers. Buffalo are enjoying this very early
spring. Grasses are already greening-up inside
Yellowstone. For now, the northern herd is content
to graze the now-plentiful grasses uncovered by early
snowmelt. They are full of energy and showing
it! Beautiful, healthy and spirited, the herds
dance and graze, wallow and play. Gorgeous mama
buffalo are showing huge round bellies that will soon
bring forth the next generation. On the western
boundary there is still a stark absence of buffalo outside
Yellowstone, but we expect they will soon roam to their
favorite calving grounds at Horse Butte.
As you know, the buffalo were a hot topic in Washington,
DC this week (see below for Josh and Darrell's report,
news articles and a call to action). On Tuesday,
the House Parks Subcommittee hearing room held a nearly
all-star cast of the many players involved in the buffalo's
current story, including villains, heroes and the ever
typical, non-committal fence-sitters. Sadly, the
Native American voice was again left out. Congressional
champions are calling much-needed attention to the mismanagement
of Yellowstone bison, while the cattle interests keep
showing their greed for grass and ignorance of the meaning
and importance of wildness.
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer showed his true cowboy
colors by announcing to the Subcommittee, "I
come to you not just as Montana's governor, but first
as a cattleman." So, there it is. Granted,
he did agree that the current Plan is not working, and
that removing or strictly managing cattle in the Greater
Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) is a good first step towards
a solution. But, of great importance here was
his admittance that this issue isn't totally about brucellosis
- it's about grass. Schweitzer unveiled that if
wild bison were brucellosis-free, they still would not
be welcome to reclaim their Montana habitat. Of
course, we see that this is the case across the country
where genetically unique, disease-free bison are held
captive in fences on our public lands. Schweitzer
celebrated the quarantine experiment and also suggested
that Yellowstone should be open to hunting and complained
how Montana has to "wait to shoot them until their
noses cross the line." He and all others
speaking for cattle interests asserted that Yellowstone
is overgrazed and overpopulated, and Schweitzer had
the audacity to compare the survival mechanisms of bison
forced to live inside Yellowstone, who make it through
the harsh winters by grazing exposed grasses around
thermal features, to "a cattle feedline."
What? Of course, his recent visits to Yellowstone
have been in the saddle of a snowmobile, so his thinking
might be clouded by exhaust fumes and noise. But
now we know where he really stands.
While we must continue to hold the Park Service accountable
for the slaughter and harassment of the bison in their
care, we also have to give some credit where it's due.
At the hearing the National Park Service actually spoke
on behalf of the wild buffalo for a change. Mike
Soukup, NPS Director, stated that this is the nation's
only continuously wild herd and that it is "small
but precious." Suzanne Lewis, Yellowstone's Superintendent,
was asked why the buffalo migrate out of the Park.
She beautifully and frankly stated that "[the buffalo]
are doing what they've been doing for centuries ...
it's not because the Park is overgrazed, it's because
it's winter." The Park Service also
testified that the bison population in Yellowstone is
certainly NOT over capacity, and in fact, Yellowstone
could support twice as many (upwards of 7,000).
And the Park Service finally admitted that maintaining
a free-roaming herd of wild buffalo is of higher value
to them than is a brucellosis-free herd. KUDOS!
Let's hold them to these words and ensure that their
future actions will follow.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported
on their undergoing investigation of the Interagency
Bison Management Plan and the land deal with the Church
Universal & Triumphant (CUT). CUT is the largest
cattle producer in the bison's way, and they own less
than 300 cows. So long as cattle graze these lands,
said GAO, no bison will be able to access even the wildlife
conservation easement lands within their critical winter
range. Hopefully the ongoing discussions with
CUT will turn into an agreement that wild bison can
live with. It remains to be seen. The general
theme from cattle interests was that they are unwilling
to make room for wild buffalo, and if they "must",
they touted the tiresome "cows not condos"
theme and threatened to sell out to developers before
coexisting with wild bison.
One stark figure that was laid bare by the Humane Society
of the U.S. was the fact that the United States hosts
100 Million cattle. Think about that. In
their height of glory, wild bison numbered in the tens
of millions. Yet, here we have one hundred million
cattle upon the land in America. That is an astronomically
ridiculous number of invasive grass-eaters, and the
people who would hoard grasses and kill native species
for them purport that 3,600 wild bison are "too
many." Would these cattle producers
and their political backers support the death of the
mighty oak or the majestic redwood so that kudzu and
noxious napweed can flourish? And why, pray tell,
was there a seat filled by a professor from Utah with
no link to this issue other than being a constituent
of conservative Rep. Bishop, yet not a single Native
American voice was represented? Wayne Pacelle
of HSUS reminded us that the slaughter and mistreatment
of the American Bison is a symbol of humans' destructive
capacity; the beauty is, we have the capacity to change.
All of the panelist's written testimonies, including
BFC's, are available for you to review at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=36,
and our friends from the Gallatin Wildlife Association
have submitted powerful comments that are well worth
checking out at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/aboutus/artthoughts/GWA.html.
Ultimately, this hearing is a first step and we are
grateful to and commend Rep. Rahall and Rep. Grijalva
for taking the initiative to bring this issue to light.
The health and well-being of the last surviving wild
population of bison in the United States depends on
what happens next. Many great thanks to everyone
who contacted the Subcommittee and their representatives.
Keep the pressure on! You will help shape the
future for wild buffalo by letting those who represent
you in Congress know how important is is that wild bison
regain a foot-hold on their native homelands.
The native grasses and the wild buffalo need your support
and your voice now.
Roam Free,
~Stephany
------------------------------
Update from Washington D.C.
Darrell and I have now completed two full days on Capitol
Hill. On Tuesday, as many of you know and might
have seen, we spent the morning participating in a hearing
about the buffalo before the House Subcommittee on National
Parks, Forests and Public Lands. The hearing was
certainly an interesting and educational experience
for us all. Clearly, we have a lot of work ahead
of us to overcome the significant ignorance and misunderstanding
about the Park, the buffalo, and the responsibility
of Congress.
We were very encouraged by the strong words issued by
Representatives Nick J. Rahall II and Raul Grijalva
in opposition to the continued slaughter of wild Yellowstone
buffalo. Thanks also to Rep. Maurice Hinchey for
getting the General Accounting Office to investigate
the Interagency Bison Management Plan and Royal Teton
Ranch land deal. Based on further discussions
today, we are certain that these congressional champions
of the buffalo will work toward legislation to help
stop the slaughter.
Today we met with the staff of both Montana Senators,
Max Baucus and Jon Tester. It is absolutely imperative
for any legislation to get through the Senate that at
least one if not both Montana Senators assume a leadership
role on this issue. To all of Montana's buffalo
supporters, we urge you to call and write to our Senators
about the buffalo. Urge them to take proactive
steps to protect habitat for wild buffalo. Demand
that they make the buffalo a legislative priority.
To all of the buffalo supporters outside of Montana,
call and write your Senators and ask them to discuss
these issues with the Montana delegation. Urge
them to show their support for creative and effective
solutions to this crisis. The Democrats are now
in control of both the House and the Senate. There
is no time to deliberate and make excuses about how
"complex" the issues are. Now is the
time for our elected officials to act for the benefit
of the buffalo.
We will continue, through the remainder of this week
and next, to meet with various congressional staff about
the crisis facing the buffalo. We are very grateful
for all of the encouragement and suggestions you have
sent this week. Congress is comprised of the elected
representatives of the people. They are responsible
to the American public and we must hold them accountable
for both their action and inaction on behalf of the
buffalo. When praise is due, let us show our gratitude.
When the will of the people is denied, let us show our
disdain and demand change.
In closing, we'd like to thank everyone who wrote, called
and emailed the Subcommittee and their Representatives.
Your letters are powerful testimony to the sacredness
and importance of the last wild buffalo and the need
to set them free! Special thanks also go to Marian
Osher for her continued steadfast support and for helping
us prepare info packets and other materials for the
hearing and Congressional meetings at hand.
For the Buffalo,
Josh Osher
------------------------------
* Please Keep the Pressure on Congress!
1) If you live in the home district
of one of the Subcommittee members please contact her/him
on behalf of the last wild buffalo because it is especially
critical that they hear from you! Urge them to
do whatever it takes to stop the harassment and slaughter
of the wild Yellowstone bison. Contact information
for each member of the House subcommittee is listed
below (scroll down) or here at this link: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newcommittee.cgi?site=ctc&lang=&commcode=hresources_parks
2) Don't see your Representative listed?
Use the following contact info to get your message to
the subcommittee membership: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, 1333 Longworth House
Office Building, Phone: (202) 226-7736,
Fax: (202) 226-2301
3) If your House representative is
not on the Subcommittee, please contact them anyway
and urge them to take a leadership role in protecting
the Yellowstone bison, the United State's last continuously
wild herd. http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/politicians.html
4) Please contact your Senators and
urge them to hold a similar hearing in the Senate.
MONTANA: It is critical that Senators Tester and
Baucus hear from you - we need their support to win
for the buffalo! http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/politicians.html
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS:
Urge the Subcommittee (and all of Congress) to provide
clear direction to our National Forests and Parks that
wild bison belong, and are our top priority on public
lands and ask them to fund the purchase of wildlife
conservation easements including winter range and corridors
for bison to migrate through private lands in the Yellowstone
area. Please also urge that Native American interests
are represented at future hearings. BFC will be
visiting with Congressional offices the rest of this
week and the next and your calls will make a huge difference!
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS
& PUBLIC LANDS:
*Majority Membership:
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) [Chairman], 202-225-2435, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), 202-225-3611, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), 202-225-2726, neil.abercrombie@mail.house.gov
Donna M. Christensen (D-VI), 202-225-1790, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Rush Holt (D-NJ), 202-225-5801, http://holt.house.gov/contact.shtml
Dan Boren (D-OK), 202-225-2701, http://www.house.gov/boren/emailsignup.shtml
John P. Sarbanes (D-MD), 202-225-4016, http://sarbanes.house.gov/IMA/issue_subscribe.shtml
Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), 202-225-6416, N/A
Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY), 202-225-6335, http://www.house.gov/hinchey/contact/zipauth.shtml
Ron Kind (D-WI), 202-225-5506, http://www.house.gov/kind/contact.shtml
Lois Capps (D-CA), 202-225-3601, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Jay Inslee (D-WA), 202-225-6311, http://www.house.gov/inslee/contact/email.html
Mark Udall (D-CO), 202-225-2161, http://markudall.house.gov/HoR/CO02/Contact+Mark/Contact+Mark.htm
Stephanie Herseth (D-SD), 202-225-2801, stephanie.herseth@mail.house.gov
Heath Shuler (D-NC), 202-225-6401, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
*Minority Membership:
Rob Bishop (R-UT) [Ranking Member], 202-225-0453, http://www.house.gov/robbishop/contact/
John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), 202-225-5435, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Christopher Cannon (R-UT), 202-225-7751, http://chriscannon.house.gov/email.htm
Tom Tancredo (R-CO), 202-225-7882, http://tancredo.house.gov/contact/contact_contacttom.shtml
Jeff Flake (R-AZ), 202-225-2635, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Rick Renzi (R-AZ), 202-225-2315, http://www.house.gov/renzi/email.shtml
Steve Pearce (R-NM), 202-225-2365, http://www.house.gov/formpearce/emailtemplate.htm
Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), 202-225-3176, http://brown.house.gov/writebrown/
Louie Gohmert (R-TX), 202-225-3035, http://gohmert.house.gov/contact_louie.htm
Tom Cole (R-OK), 202-225-6165, http://www.house.gov/cole/contact.htm
Dean Heller (R-NV), 202-225-6155, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Bill Sali (R-ID), 202-225-6611, http://sali.house.gov/contactform/
Doug Lamborn (R-CO), 202-225-4422, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
------------------------------
* Buffalo in the News
3/21/07 - Billings Gazette: Hearing addresses
bison management (Also appeared in the Bozeman Daily
Chronicle under the headline "Congress Calls for
End to Bison 'Murder'")
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/03/21/news/state/25-hearing.txt
3/21/07 - Billings Gazette: Opinion: Park Bison
Dispute Migrates to Congress
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/03/21/opinion/gazette/50-gazetteopinion.txt
3/21/07 - Environmental News Service: Yellowstone
Bison Controversy Thunders On
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2007/2007-03-21-10.asp
3/21/97 - Ralph Maughn's Wildlife News: Congress
Looks at Solutions to Yellowstone Bison Debate
http://wolves.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/congress-looks-at-solutions-to-yellowstone-bison-debate/
3/20/07 - BFC Press Release: Advocates for America's
Last Wild Bison Get Hearing in Congress
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/press0607/pressreleases0607/032007.html
3/20/07 - New West: Congress Looks at Solutions
to Yellowstone Bison Debate
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/congress_looks_at_yellowstone_bison_solution/C74/L38/
3/20/07 - KIFI TV, Idaho: Democrats in Congress
want to Stop Bison Slaughter
http://www.localnews8.com/story.cfm?nav=news&storyID=1781
3/19/07 - Billings Gazette: Deal on Bison Travel
Close
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/03/19/news/local/40-bison.txt
3/19/07 - BFC Press Release: Congress Investigates
Bison Slaughter
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/press0607/pressreleases0607/031907.html
------------------------------
* Last Words
"The buffalo ran at us as if we were family separated
in tragedy and at last reunited in the most harmonious
of gatherings. Each of our movements is slow and quiet
driven by our hearts as not to overwhelm our surroundings.
We breathe gently amidst our friends, gathering feelings
of heartache and distress over our separation tossing
them behind us. We are free now and stand as one again.
Our smiles fill the blue skies and our play shakes the
ground beneath us... This is why we are here... To emanate
this vision, this experience, from within Yellowstone
clear out over its borders with stampeding force back
into the Great Plains, to the Florida Peninsula, to
our growing allies in the east, throughout Appalachia,
and beyond our fictional, political, and arbitrary boundaries
to settle as seeds yearning to germinate on the vast
lands of the North American continent. We are with the
bison and the bison with us to see that this vision,
these seeds, take root."
~ Tristam Coffin, BFC Volunteer
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