Hello Buffalo Supporters,

I hope this month’s newsletter of On the Buffalo Trail finds you well. Since we’ve grown our base of wonderful supporters, now is a good time to summarize how my initiatives fit into our organizational goals for advancing our mission of appropriate wild, Yellowstone bison management. No other organization is in the field advocating for the only continuously wild population of bison in the United States. This is a responsibility we do not take lightly.

Recently, I’ve been collaborating with many organizations from across the nation. My outreach to nonprofit and tribal entities focuses on seeking common ground for wildlife advocacy. I consistently draw attention to the many failures of state and federal managing agencies regarding wild, Yellowstone bison. The Campaign’s decades of knowledge and on-the-ground experience provides a powerful voice for change.

Yellowstone bison must be afforded the freedom to persist. Large intact landscapes provide critical ecosystem benefits imperative to the survival of the natural world and our own existence. As state and federal agencies continue to produce ailing and mismanaged landscapes, our mission is more important than ever. Wild bison must be allowed to foster resilience for other wildlife species, and for the ecosystems upon which we all rely. Wildlife policy and management principles must prioritize a strong and resilient ecosystem. After decades of intensive state and federal management, Yellowstone’s ailing bison herds must be allowed to recover. The artificial suppression of these wild populations, and the aggressive manipulation of their migratory patterns and habitat, is causing fundamental damage to ancient bison ecology and herd memory.

Regional bison populations must be managed in the same way as the local elk populations. Scientific, ecosystem-based wildlife management must guide the expansion of the bison populations. To fulfill their keystone role in the Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond, wild bison must be allowed to migrate freely. An uncertain future of climate change and ecosystem stress must compel our leaders to protect our public trust wildlife and natural places. Healthy ecosystems are supported and maintained by robust populations of keystone species. To appropriately protect public trust of America’s National Mammal, the federal government must reconsider their leadership for Yellowstone bison.

The Campaign has been doing this work a long time. We’ve witnessed the worst government actions taken against the bison and strive to hold them accountable. We will continue to build coalitions and collaborate along shared values. While we develop relationships with diverse organizations from around the world, we honor our mission. The benefits of a robust bison population are significant. These benefits include sustaining a fully functioning ecosystem, protecting the public trust, maintaining the American character associated with our wild places, securing the treaty-reserved hunting rights of tribes, and maximizing bison restoration opportunities here, and elsewhere.

It is for these reasons Buffalo Field Campaign appreciates your support so much. We are acting on huge issues that require significant, consistent resources that our growing base of supporters provide. Your voice gives us strength as we speak for Yellowstone bison. Thank you for standing with us.

For the Buffalo,
James Holt, Sr.
Executive Director, Buffalo Field Campaign

“The Earth and I are of One Mind.”- Chief Joseph, Nimiipuu (Nez Perce)