| Yellowstone Bison Slaughter
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| Weekly
Update from the Field April 23, 2009 |
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Update from the Field
* BFC Needs You on the Front Lines!
* Apple Laptop Computer Needed for BFC's Media Crew
* Last Words
* Kill Tally
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* Update from the Field
Dear Buffalo Friends,
Along the western boundary of Yellowstone, the
first known buffalo calf of the season has been born
on Horse Butte! The next buffalo generation is arriving.
The funny thing is, we did not take these pictures. In
fact, we haven't even seen the baby buffalo yet. One of
our patrols found a camera on Pine Needle Road, where
we drop volunteers off for Horse Butte patrols, and it
just so happened to contain pictures of this little calf
that were taken on April 20th. We are making an effort
to locate the camera's owner.
This baby buffalo, and those soon to come, may have a
little time to play, sleep, and eat in peace, but come
May 15, their little legs will be forced to travel great
distances when agents appear with horses, trucks, ATVs,
a helicopter, and law enforcement to chase them out of
Montana. For now, however, their biggest threat is the
highway.
Buffalo are really on the move, and most have once again
left Horse Butte. Luckily, on Sunday, our friend Jim Macdonald
of Buffalo Allies of Bozeman got to spend time with us
and over 170 buffalo on Horse Butte. Jim is a long time
buffalo warrior, but this was his first time on Horse
Butte. It was one of those magical days that words can
not adequately describe, but you can see a series of Jim's
photos.
The very next day, patrols on Horse Butte watched in awe
as most of these buffalo suddenly kicked up their heels
and ran full speed down the Butte, inspiring their friends
on the flats to join them in a speedy migration eastward
along the Madison River bluffs. It's been amazing to see
how they behave when left alone by agents. They go where
they want to go, stay as long as they want to stay, and
venture wherever their beautiful cloven hooves will take
them. Unfortunately, their hooves often take them across
Highway 191, which is unavoidable as it dissects their
migration corridors.
BFC has been running night patrols every evening and buffalo
are keeping us busy all day, every day, as we monitor
their migration and warn traffic of their presence in
our effort to reduce bison/vehicle collisions. Our signs
are an enormous boon to this effort and we are forever
grateful to you for helping us acquire them. BFC's role
of buffalo crossing guard is a direct action that is clearly
saving buffalo lives.
One buffalo was lost this week, but in an amazingly natural
way: a yearling was taken down by a grizzly bear beside
the Madison River. Our patrols had seen a young grizzly,
and the next day we learned that a bear had successfully
hunted a young buffalo. That's quite a feat for a young
bear, so it may be that this bear's mother is also in
the neighborhood. She would likely have the experience
and strength to penetrate the protective herd. Needless
to say, there is electric excitement knowing grizzly bears
are around in the areas we patrol, and volunteers are
being extremely cautious and bear aware.
We are very pleased to let you know that no more buffalo
have been hit on the highway since reports from our last
Update. Many thanks to everyone who took the time to write
to Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and the Montana Department
of Transportation. It has made a difference: the marquee
signs have recently been changed to include the message
"15 Bison Impacts This Year" and we have noticed
a highway patrolman enforcing the 55 MPH speed limit.
More still needs to be done, so BFC will continue to work
with other buffalo allies to push for better permanent
signs, nighttime speed reductions during migration, and
safe passage projects that will allow buffalo and other
wildlife to cross the busy highway without having to step
on the road.
Thank you all for being with us and for the buffalo!
Roam Free,
~Stephany
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* BFC Needs You on the Front Lines!
Buffalo Field Campaign is looking for volunteers to join
us on the front lines now. Buffalo migration is in full
swing and our shaggy friends are everywhere, keeping us
busy nearly 24 hours a day. BFC provides room, board,
training, and gear; the ecosystem provides the magic and
mystery. If you are interested, please contact Brock,
our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@buffalofieldcampaing.org
or call 406-646-0070.
We are also looking for summer volunteers to help us with
outreach in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Talking to park visitors who are in the company of the
buffalo we are trying to protect is a great way to raise
awareness and make more friends for the buffalo.
If you would like to spend some or all of your summer
with BFC, please contact Mike at mease@wildrockies.org
or call 406-646-0070.
We also have a job opening for a Summer Maintenance Coordinator.
We're looking for someone who is handy with tools, knows
what it takes to maintain cabins, and is also mechanically
inclined. If you are interested, please contact Mike at
mease@wildrockies.org
or call 406-646-0070.
See you in West Yellowstone in the land of the last wild
buffalo!
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* Apple Laptop Computer Needed for BFC's Media
Crew
BFC's media crew is looking for a good Apple/Mac laptop
computer. All of our computers are currently stationary
systems, and a laptop will enable us to work from other
locations and consequently be more effective with communications
and outreach. All donations to BFC are tax deductible
and are very much appreciated! If you can help us acquire
a laptop please contact Stephany at bfc-media@wildrockies.org
or call us at 406-646-0070.
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* Last Words
"It is through this mysterious power that we too
have our being, and we therefore yield to our neighbors,
even to our animal neighbors, the same right as ourselves
to inhabit this vast land."
~ Chief Tatanka Iyotank (Sitting Bull), Hunkpapa Lakota
holy man (1831-1890)
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* Kill Tally
AMERICAN BISON ELIMINATED from the last wild population
in the U.S.
2008-2009 Total: 17
2008-2009 Slaughter: 0
2008-2009 Hunt: 1
2008-2009 Quarantine: 0
2008-2009 Shot by Agents: 1
2008-2009 Highway Mortality: 15
2007-2008 Total: 1,631
Total Since 2000: 3,698*
*includes lethal government action, quarantine, hunts,
highway mortalities |
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Media & Outreach
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
BFC is the only group working in the field every day
in defense of the last wild buffalo population in the
U.S.
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