Every year, Buffalo Field Campaign saves the lives of buffalo. What we do in the field–day in and day out–makes a difference in the lives of our country’s last wild buffalo in Yellowstone.

After last season’s extensive loss of over 1,700 buffalo, this season saw 42 buffalo taken by state and tribal hunters, with Yellowstone National Park sending 15 buffalo to slaughter, and 5 buffalo to quarantine.

The first herd migrating into Gardiner Basin were trapped by Yellowstone National Park at Stephens Creek. Two other herds of buffalo dared to walk out of the park into Montana where 11 were hunted. They didn’t stay for long. With the memory of last year’s loss of their family members, the few remaining migrated back into the mountains. The buffalo are changing their behavior to escape the government’s plan to confine their migrations and range to appease Montana’s livestock industry.

As spring guides the Central herd’s migration, the buffalo navigate their way across US Highway 191 to their calving grounds on Horse Butte peninsula in Hebgen Basin.

BFC’s patrols and road side presence from morning to night, help guide pregnant females and other members of the matriarch-led herds to safety. We deploy Buffalo on Road signs to warn traffic so migrating buffalo can safely cross the highways. It is a worthwhile, heart-warming experience for everyone who has set up signs to aid the safe passage of newborn calves and their mothers.

Sadly, two buffalo were killed this season by vehicles. Many more would have been hit but for BFC's field presence. We continue to work on providing safe passage solutions for buffalo, and all wildlife.

As the next generation of buffalo arrives, my heart turns to the sad reality our tax money funds the government’s insane plan. We, the people, once stopped the slaughter of this great species. We created a home for them in America’s first National Park. The truth is, it’s not enough. We must prioritize the buffalo’s needs by creating safe passages, and protecting their right to roam millions of acres of National Forest in Yellowstone.

Buffalo know how to take care of themselves. We humans need to follow their lead.

Mike Mease, BFC Co-founder

“Nature is a beautiful thing. And the beauty of it is, we have no control over it. Until we can forge that relationship to understand that that inherent value is important, then I think we are always going to run into these brick walls…because people are too scared to let wild things be wild.”
~Mike Mease, Our National Mammal, BFC Documentary Short