| *Update
from the Field
Friends
of the buffalo,
The transition to our summer campaign is complete. The
buffalo have returned to the park and are currently
migrating east, toward Yellowstone's Hayden Valley.
Our information tabling season began June 2nd near the
Mammoth visitor's center. We have been meeting many
supporters and informing those who had no idea about
the harassment and slaughter of the Yellowstone buffalo
of what happens when they are not around. Many of these
folks have walked away from our table with a new appreciation
for the importance of protecting the buffalo, a national
treasure. If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone
this winter be sure to look us up. We'll be in Yellostone
and Grand Teton National Parks all summer and we'd love
to meet you in person.
After we are finished tabling for the day we often go
and sit with the buffalo. It feels good to know they
will have time to rest and build their strength for
the summer rut and next winter.
This season ended on a sad note. A second baby died
from a hazing operation on Friday, May 27th. The Department
of Livestock (DOL) began hazing twenty buffalo on Tuesday
the 24th. As they often do, the agents ran the herd
through a barbed wire fence and paid no attention to
the newborn calves who were trying to keep up with their
families. A just-born baby was badly injured due to
the DOL's inhumane and abusive tactics. Only after the
calf had been weakened to the point of not being able
to walk did the DOL agents finally leave it and its
mother alone.
We stayed in the area day and night to monitor the calf's
condition, giving she and her mother plenty of space.
We documented a big gash to one knee and wounds in the
baby's side. The mother repeatedly tried to get her
baby to walk and catch up with the herd but the baby
didn't have the strength. On Wednesday the DOL and a
Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer came to haze
the mama and baby back into the park.
As reported in our last update, four Women from the
Campaign stood between the mama and baby and the agents,
joining hands and singing. One Forest Service agent
approached the women but they kept on singing and paid
no attention to him. The agents soon left, leaving the
mamma and the calf alone. On Friday our patrol found
the calf dead. The DOL came out and hazed the mama away,
put the baby in a plastic bag, and carried her away
for testing and examination.
The mama would not leave the area where she had spent
the previous three and a half days trying to nurse her
baby to health. We stood with her because she had no
protection without her family. Like buffalo do, her
family had been with her on the sunny south side of
Horse Butte when she gave birth. They had even tried
to stay together as they were chased at gunpoint, hollered
at, and harassed for nearly ten miles.
Although we spend lots of magical times in the Gallatin
National Forest, every now and then we witness the difficult
times the Buffalo have to endure at the hands of the
human race. Sometimes when buffalo are killed we hold
a ceremony, sitting together to honor the buffalo and
give thanks to the lessons they continue to bring us.
When we finished our ceremony on Horse Butte, the momma
Buffalo came out of the sage brush, approached us, and
grunted several times. She went to the ceremony site
where her baby had just died and sniffed the area. We
got up and walked away, leaving her alone. For us, these
are the inspirational moments that remind us of our
connections and give us the strength to continue standing
strong with the Buffalo.
For the Buffalo,
Megan Fishback
Robert Sanchez
----------------------------------
We lost a family member,
a new to this world calf
directly linking us to the
magic that only open hearts feel
that only open ears hear.
In just a few days of life
baby buffalo brought us together
baby buffalo brought us close
baby buffalo brings us wisdom
thank you, baby buffalo, for your infinite love.
Momma
you were in the hills,
watching.
you were in the hills,
waiting.
you were in the hills,
in harmony.
poem by Robert Sanchez
2002-2003
BFC Newsletter Nears Completion
We
are in the final stages of laying out our 2002-2003
newsletter. This year's addition features up to date
information on the plight of the Yellowstone herd, suggestions
on how you can help protect the bison, updates on BFC
efforts, and a fun and informative children's page.
If you are not already on our mailing list and would
like to receive a newsletter, please reply to this email
with your mailing address
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