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Joke: What did the mom buffalo say when she left
her calf? (answer at bottom)
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Update
From the Field
Fresh snow covers the ground and the chilly air
reminds us all that winter will soon be upon us. Four
bison graze peacefully in Yellowstone National Park
near the western boundary. Trumpeter swans, geese, and
numerous varieties of ducks crowd in the unfrozen portions
of Duck Creek. Elk and deer scamper about the landscape
with wary eyes and ears. The sun breaks through the
clouds warming all including the two BFC volunteers
watching this tranquil scene.
Then, on the northern horizon, appears a large and very
strange bird. We've all seen this bird before with its
razor sharp wings and tail. It makes a thunderous sound
as it approaches creating a dreadful wind. The BFC volunteers
identify this odd and scary bird quickly as the MDOL
helicopter. The chopper follows the park boundary southward
scaring the four buffalo further into Yellowstone. The
birds all take off in a panic and the deer and elk are
nowhere to be found. The chopper continues to fly into
the park for several miles chasing all in its range
until it vanishes over the horizon. Only the horrible
sound gives away its position. Minutes later, the chopper
reappears heading west and flying low over the National
Forest adjacent to Yellowstone. Then this terrible bird
leaves as quickly as it arrived. The animals begin to
recover from the intrusion but the memory is fresh and
they will not forget soon enough.
The Montana Department of Livestock will likely continue
to bring out their helicopter throughout the winter
and spring months harassing not only bison, but everything
in its path. The Greater Yellowstone Area is one of
the most diverse ecosystems in the county. It is home
to a wide variety of sensitive, threatened and endangered
species including grizzly bears, gray wolves, bald eagles,
and trumpeter swans, in addition to elk, moose, bison,
antelope, big horn sheep and all variety of migratory
birds. All of these animals and the land they depend
on are deeply affected by the presence of low-flying
helicopters. In addition, local residents complain that
the helicopter scares both them and their pets in this
otherwise peaceful setting.
Earlier this month, the United States Senate, at the
urging of Montana Senator Conrad Burns, approved the
Department of Agriculture appropriations bill including
a special $750,000 appropriation for the Montana Department
of Livestock "for work on the Interagency Bison
Management Plan". This extra funding will allow
the MDOL to use their helicopter more often and provide
funds to operate the Horse Butte Capture Facility this
coming winter and spring. Both are a bad omen for the
fate of bison and other native wildlife this season.
In defense of wildlife threatened by MDOL's helicopter,
Buffalo Field Campaign, Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers,
and the Ecology Center, Inc. filed a lawsuit several
years ago challenging the use of helicopters to haze
bison on the western boundary of Yellowstone National
Park. Last year, Federal District Court Judge Charles
Lovell came out of retirement to rule against our case
without even reviewing video evidence that showed MDOL
and the Forest Service in clear violation of the Endangered
Species Act and NEPA. In September of this year, we
filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Hopefully, fact and reason will prevail with a change
of venue and the helicopters will cease to invade this
sensitive and diverse environment.
Please consider joining us to help protect this majestic
herd. If you can't make it in person - send your prayers
and thoughts - they are truly appreciated!
With the Buffalo,
Josh
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H.R. 3446 - The Yellowstone Buffalo Preservation Act
Summary Info regarding the Yellowstone Buffalo Protection
Act
On November 5, 2003, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and
Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) introduced the H.R. 3446, titled
the "Yellowstone Buffalo Preservation Act".
The bill is designed to protect Yellowstone bison from
unnecessary management practices including hazing (chasing
bison with helicopters, snowmobiles, horses and ATV's),
capturing, and killing. Under the bill, bison would
be allowed to range in Montana up to the edge of zone
3 of the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP). This
area constitutes a relatively small portion of lands
on the west and north sides of Yellowstone National
Park (YNP) where bison currently migrate in winter and
spring with fatal consequences. The bill further establishes
that the National Park Service (NPS) has sole jurisdiction
over bison inside YNP. Under the IBMP, the Montana Department
of Livestock (MDOL) has authority to haze bison inside
YNP near the western boundary. MDOL agents commonly
haze bison near the border using horses and helicopters
as many as seven miles into the park. The bill calls
for the dismantling of the Stephen's Creek capture facility
located inside YNP near Gardiner, Montana where NPS
captured 231 bison last March. Only about 30 of the
231 bison killed had actually left YNP. The bill also
directs the Park Service and Forest Service to acquire
additional habitat for bison in Montana using such methods
as conservation easements and acquisition.
H.R. 3446 is essentially based on three precepts. First,
bison have the right range on federal public lands both
inside and outside of YNP. Bison are a native wildlife
species in Montana and the West. They are an American
icon and the symbol of United States Department of the
Interior. They deserve to be treated with respect and
managed as native wildlife. Second, the current management
scheme under the IBMP is flawed and unnecessarily expends
federal taxpayer dollars. The continuation of this plan
will result in perpetual hazing, capturing and slaughtering
of Yellowstone bison at tremendous and rising cost to
taxpayers. The bison management budget for FY2004 will
likely exceed 3.5 million all coming from federal funds.
The IBMP's arbitrary 3000-population cap for bison endangers
the survival of the herd and limits the genetic variability
of this unique herd. Third, there are a number of common
sense solutions that could be employed that will effectively
address the concerns of Montana's livestock industry
while allowing wild bison to freely range outside of
YNP. The IBMP is not based on simple common sense solutions
but rather expensive wildlife vaccination programs and
massive population reductions, neither of which has
proven effective.
Opponents of the bill, led by Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R-MT),
contend that free-ranging Yellowstone bison pose a significant
threat to Montana's livestock industry. They claim that
bison infected with the disease brucellosis will infect
domestic cattle thus threatening the state's brucellosis
free status. They believe that the only way to deal
with the threat of brucellosis infected bison is to
keep them within the borders of YNP using whatever means
necessary.
We believe, however, that the threat of brucellosis
transmission to domestic cattle from wild Yellowstone
bison is vastly overstated. First, studies indicate
that less than 10 percent of the Yellowstone bison are
presently infected with brucellosis. Of these animals,
only pregnant female bison have the biological capability
to transmit the disease. Transmission can only occur
if livestock ingest a significant quantity of infected
birthing material. There has never been a documented
case of brucellosis transmission from wild bison to
domestic cattle. Second, domestic livestock grazing
in the Greater Yellowstone Area are vaccinated for brucellosis.
The vaccine is between 65 and 75 percent effective.
Vaccinated cattle and brucellosis infected bison have
commingled in Grand Teton National Park for over 45
years without a single documented case of brucellosis
transmission. Third, wild bison and domestic cattle
do not inhabit the same range at the same time. Bison
migrate from YNP to lower elevations in Montana in the
winter and spring months. They return to YNP in the
late spring when forage is accessible in the Park. Domestic
cattle do not graze these areas during this period because
the climate is too harsh to support them. During the
three to four months that cattle are present near the
park boundary, only a few bull bison that pose not brucellosis
threat may be in the area. Further, many other wildlife
species including elk, deer, moose, wolf, coyote, bear
and numerous others have also been exposed to brucellosis
and may carry the disease. If Montana is so deeply concerned
about brucellosis, why are bison the only species targeted
by the state livestock industry.
The truth is that the Montana livestock industry is
using brucellosis as a front for the real reasons they
wish to exclude wild bison from Montana. What it all
boils down to is access to grass. Livestock producers,
particularly those grazing on public land, are concerned
that the addition of a large ungulate species would
lessen the amount of grass available for their cattle.
They also claim that wild bison will damage fences and
injure their animals. In seven years of observation
near the western boundary of YNP, we have not seen damage
to fences caused by bison except when they are being
run through them by MDOL agents. What we have observed,
however, is that bison walk around fence lines or simply
jump fences. It may be hard to imagine a 2000-pound
bison jumping a fence, but we can assure you that it
is possible and does happen, even from a stand still.
Further, livestock producers already have to deal with
fence damage done by elk and deer. There is no indication
from our observations that bison will significantly
add to this unavoidable aspect of ranching operations
in native wildlife habitat. For the first few years
that bison are allowed to migrate into Montana, a compensation
program could also be established for fence or property
damage due to bison.
Other concerns that have been raised about wild bison
ranging in Montana include the presence of bison on
roads and private property. Both of these issues can
be adequately addressed by employing sound wildlife
management practices. There are currently several projects
underway in Canada and northern Montana to create wildlife
overpass/underpass migration corridors. This technique
could be employed in affected areas near Yellowstone.
Private property owners who wish to exclude bison from
their land can install larger bison proof fences. Both
of these practices will cost taxpayers significantly
less in the long run than continuing the current policy
of keeping bison out of the state.
In summary, we believe that H.R. 3446 sends a message
to the Montana livestock industry that their current
management practices are not solution oriented and are
out of touch with the vast majority of Americans. The
bill advocates common sense alternatives that protect
Yellowstone bison as a native wildlife species and would
cost taxpayers significantly less than the current program
of hazing, capturing and killing bison at Yellowstone's
border.
H.R. 3446 also represents a great opportunity for bison
advocates to do something proactive for the buffalo.
Please take a few minutes to call and write you Representatives
and Senators in the Untied States Congress. Tell them
that they have a duty to protect our buffalo from the
current cruel and unnecessary practices that have resulted
in the slaughter of thousands of Yellowstone bison.
Ask them to please co-sponsor H.R. 3446 and support
future bison protection legislation.
Please also share the story of Yellowstone's last wild
bison with a friend and encourage them to call and write
Congress as well. Always remember that your voice can
make a difference and that all of our voices in chorus
will create change for ourselves and Yellowstone buffalo.
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Help Denver school PS 1 come to the BFC!
We are excited to have 20 students from public school
1 in Denver visit us here in West Yellowstone…but
they need your help to arrive safely. They will be travelling
on Sunday, November 30 from Denver and would like to
spend the night at a mid-way point in Wyoming…anywhere
between Rock Springs and Jackson. If you have any contacts
with a church, community center, or private resident
where these kids may stay the night, please contact
us at 406.646.0070 so that we can plan their stay. Any
help would be greatly appreciated and would afford these
students a trip of a lifetime…to help protect the
last wild bison!
Thank-you for your support!
With the Buffalo,
Justine and Amy
BFC Coordinators
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Wish List addendum
metal spatulas
oven mits/potholders
unopened first aid supplies
We are also still in dire need of a freezer
Thanks so much to everyone that has helped us get ready
for this winter season with donations!!!
AND in the hollyday spirit - don't forget there are
some beautifull as well as goofy gifts that you can
get at the Buffalo
Bazaar
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Joke Answer: Bi Son
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