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* Update from the Field
Dear Buffalo Friends,
Volunteers and coordinators are beginning to gather
in West Yellowstone for the coming season of wild bison
defense. Thankfully, the field is peaceful for the time
being, though the Montana Department of Livestock has
already started harassing buffalo. About two weeks ago
DOL agent Shane Grube chased a couple of bull bison
away from the Duck Creek area. Duck Creek is a significant
wildlife migration corridor along Yellowstone's western
boundary and it is a favorite for buffalo. Like the
rest of Montana, it is land to which the buffalo are
refused access, except, of course, during the so-called
hunt which begins November 15.
Due to last season's massive slaughter and continued
harassment by the DOL, it's possible most bison hunters
could go away empty-handed this year. Fewer than 3,000
bison survived last season's slaughter. We are hopeful
for a mild winter, which could mean a much-needed respite
for the buffalo. But if deep snows obscure the grass
the buffalo need, they are going to do what it takes
to survive by moving to lower elevation habitat, regardless
of their low numbers or the politics that attempt to
dictate their future.
As always, and only with your help, Buffalo Field Campaign
will be here in the field, standing with the buffalo,
monitoring the migration, documenting all actions made
against them, and advocating for their lasting protection.
We ask you to continue to stand with us, for the buffalo.
ROAM FREE!
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* URGENT ACTION: Comments Needed on CUT Lease
Your
comments are needed by 5:00 pm, MST, Friday, October
31, 2008, on a tentative agreement involving a 30-year
lease of grazing rights from the Royal Teton Ranch -
between state and federal agencies, some conservation
groups, and the Church Universal & Triumphant (CUT).
If this land lease goes through, CUT will receive $3,300,000
for leasing their land for a mere 30 years so that a
handful of captured, tested, and tagged bison could
temporarily occupy portions of their native range outside
Yellowstone's north boundary.
The agencies are pressing forward with a decision and
have now prepared an environmental assessment for public
comment. BFC opposes the terms of the land deal that
degrade wild buffalo and subject them to invasive and
unnecessary hazing, capturing, testing, collaring, and
implanting telemetry devices in pregnant females. Restrictive
fencing, arbitrary limits on the number of buffalo allowed
to roam there that break social group and familial bonds,
provision for another potential capture pen, and drop
dead time lines including forced removal back to the
Park by April 15. If these provisions are removed, BFC
could support using taxpayer money to permanently remove
cattle from Church Universal & Triumphant lands.
Please forward this to everyone you know who cares about
wild bison!
For more information, and to take action,
please
click here.
Thanks to everyone who has already commented!
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* Buffalo in the News
REMINDER: Buffalo Field Campaign will send you a FREE
BFC T-shirt if you get a buffalo-friendly letter
to the editor published! Just send a clipping of your
published letter along with your T-shirt size and mailing
address to BFC-Media, P.O. Box 957, West Yellowstone,
MT 59758 or email
it. Be a strong voice for the buffalo and get a
FREE BFC T-shirt! Consider responding to one of the
articles below.
10/30/08 - Great Falls Tribune
FWP's
Hagener: Brucellosis is a problem for all, not just
wildlife
10/29/08 - NBC San Diego
Bush
Administration Proposes Second Interagency Group for
Bison
10/29/08 - Forbes
Vets
back Yellowstone-area livestock disease plan
10/28/08 - Department of Interior Press Release
Secretary
Kempthorne Launches Bison Conservation Initiative
10/17/08 - Billings Gazette
FWP
proposes corridor for bison
10/17/08 - Yellowstone Insider
New
bison management plan fails to impress
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* Last Words
Last of the Bison (Excerpt from The Vision Quest)
Can you not see that clouds whisper the soft-dying day
and enfold grassy-plains in golden hue; yet not a single
bleat shall stir from half-grown calves with downy coat.
Nor night hawks in the darkening hour shall gather over
endless herds.
Then fears that they may cease to be before my eyes
in eternity.
Before high-bluffs where lookout held, when endless
waves would thunder through. Then think that I may never
trace their shadowed forms in endless space; or shall
I see them evermore, across the plain with boundless
hooves.~ by Dick Williamson, PhD
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* Kill Tally
AMERICAN BISON ELIMINATED from the last wild population
in the U.S.
2008-2009 Total: 1
2008-2009 Slaughter: 0
2008-2009 Hunt: 0
2008-2009 Quarantine: 0
2008-2009 Shot by Agents: 1
2007-2008 Total: 1,616
Total Since 2000: 3,682*
*includes lethal government action, quarantine, hunts
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