| BFC Buffalo Field Campaign
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| Voices
from the Community |
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Letter
to Governor Schweitzer, Senator Baucus and Senator Tester 05/04/07
We are very angry about the lies, deception, and cruel treatment
of the bison during hazing operations.
We, the residents of Horse Butte, have been watching this everyday
for the last two weeks, and it continues. Bison, who have naturally
migrated out of Yellowstone National Park to feed on grass and
give birth to calfs, are repeatedly being run and chased. This
includes, obviously, pregnant cows and newborn calves. Some
construction workers watched in horror as two hours-old calves
were repeatedly run into the barbed-wire fence by two hazers
who were obviously enjoying watching the calfs bawl as they
were being poked by the barbs. So much for "hazing the
bison humanely and safely".
The agencies, who carry out the IBMP especially the DOL, DO
NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORDS "HUMANE" OR "SAFE".
The interesting thing is, the minute these hazers (members of
the IBMP) realize they are being watched or photographed, their
inhumane and unsafe demeanor changes. They no longer run the
bison. They start walking them, and the hazers back off their
harassing and cruel behavior. Tourists have been watching this
too. They tell us our state looks "stupid". We have
encouraged them to call, write, and complain. It's time for
all this to stop. There are no CATTLE OUT HERE!!!! The grazing
allotment was lost. The land is in contract to be sold to a
conservation-minded private developer. THIS IS A PENNINSULA!!!!
Where are the bison going to go? Of course, we did watch in
horror a year ago in the winter as the IBMP hazers ran bison
out onto the ice, the ice broke, and several drowned. BISON
ARE NOT LIVESTOCK!!!!!! Yet, the DOL, repeatedly strong arms
their way into controlling these wild bison.
We as private property owners have been told we have no rights
when it comes to carrying out the Interagency Bison Management
Plan (IBMP). The DOL can come onto our property, and we cannot
stop them. We will fight you to the death on this issue. We
are making it known far and wide what hypocrits you really are.
Cattle, that do not even exist, are more important than native
wildlife. Bruscellosis was introduced to the Yellowstone Bison
Herd by CATTLE!!! The elk have the disease. Yet you don't harass
them. We know the truth. We've known it all along. This is not
about bruscellosis. This is about power, control, a blade of
grass, and the almighty dollar. We are not going away. Our voices
will only get louder. We are videotaping these hazing incidents,
taking still photos, and bringing other individuals out to watch
this harassment - this joke - this fallacy.
I'm sure you know it is illegal to harass wildlife unless, of
course, you are the DOL and the agencies carrying out the IBMP.
Then you can do anything and get away with it. We are all hoping
the bison turn on the hazers and run them down. It would not
break our hearts. This is a passionate issue. We are passionate
about our bison. We want the bison here. We do not want your
IBMP staff or the DOL here. We have repeatedly asked for it
so GIVE BISON A BUFFER ZONE!!!! They only create a hazard when
they are being hazed. I have personally watched them being run
through a fence during a hazing operation when there was a wide
open gate just a few feet away, and I took pictures to prove
how the damage occurred. Traffic on highways 287 & 191 are
only tied up and interrupted when hazing operations take place.
I resent our local law enforcement agencies being tied up during
these hazing operations.
LEAVE THE BISON ALONE!!!! LET THE REAL, LIVE BUFFALO ROAM!!!!
Susan McClure
West Yellowstone
Horse Butte Neighbors of Buffalo (HOBNOB) |
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