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| Voices
from the Community |
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Letter
to Governor Schweitzer from Susan McClure, West Yellowstone
6/3/07 |
Governor
Schweitzer:
Thank you for sparing the bison here in the West Yellowstone
area. I was dreading Monday until I read the paper yesterday
and received a press release from my bison friends. I get so
excited when I see the bison in my back yard. I feel like friends
have come to visit. However, I cannot just enjoy them being
there because I know their presence means the DOL and other
agencies will come to harass and chase them away.
Please do not listen to Denny Rehberg. He's an idiot. Why he
has held office so long is beyond me. Please listen to the people
of this state, people who are not part of the livestock industry.
I, along with others, are worried about protecting the wildlife
and open spaces that make this state great. Please give the
bison a buffer zone around the park boundaries. Give them some
room to move in and out of the park without being harassed and
slaughtered. They do not live by calendars and boundaries. They
live based on instinct bred deep within them from centuries
long gone. The Yellowstone bison are following their instincts
for survival. Personally, if bison and cattle mixing is such
a hot issue, then keep the cattle away from the park boundaries.
The cattle are guests here in this region during the summer
- move them back a few miles. We talked about that with you
in our meeting in Bozeman. You said that was "do-able".
I think the time has come to make it happen.
We cannot look at bison as a disease. We must not look at any
of our native wildlife as a disease. I think the best management
is "hands off" in this case. Let nature take its course.
Immunity will develop even among the elk. Sometimes, human involvement
makes the matter worse. We think because we are human beings
(supposedly the most intelligent of the species) that we know
the right answer for every situation and must intervene to do
the right thing. Perhaps it is time for us to watch and learn.
Please make Montana a state which tolerates and welcomes native
bison. Please give the Yellowstone Bison a year round buffer
zone, and give the IBMP agencies something better to do with
their time and our money.
Sincerely,
Susan McClure
P.O. Box 622
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
(406)646-1177 |
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