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Update from the Field
Dear Friends of the Buffalo,
In this time of thankfulness we have some sad news.
On Tuesday November 25th, another bull buffalo was shot
dead by DOL agent Shane Grube while running back towards
the boundary of Yellowstone National Park. He was some
25 yards shy of the border. Volunteers had to witness
the agents drag the dead bull to the facility where
they proceeded to fork-lift him onto a truck, gut and
skin him, and remove his head. Again another powerful
animal died at the hands of the ignorant and intolerant.
The bull lived
the
only way he knew how---"Wild and Free!" Even
in death the Buffalo continue to teach.
On this Thanksgiving day, from the field, I would like
to give thanks to the gifts that the Earth in this Yellowstone
ecosystem continuously bestows upon us. In this past
week while out on patrol, volunteers have been honored
by a visiting pack of wolves, howling to others in the
distance while eight bull bison lay silent amidst the
sage brush, seemingly undisturbed by the presence of
their predatory visitors. A bald eagle soars overhead,
scanning Duck Creek for a meal while three otters break
water as they come up for a look and quickly dive under
again. A lone moose can be seen in the pines. Two ravens
chase a Red-tailed hawk west of Sandy Butte. Each day
in the field we are reminded of the connectedness that
lives in and through all things, and that we are merely
a strand in this huge web. As we stand in the field
with the buffalo, we are very Thankful.
With the Buffalo,
Roman, BFC Volunteer
---------------------------------------------
Take Action!
Write a letter to the editor, call your Representative,
and tell your friends about the slaughter
The state of Montana says their reasons for "managing"
our last, wild buffalo in such a disrespectful and shameful
way is to protect the state's livestock industry's brucellosis-free
status, yet, there has *never* been a documented case
of buffalo transmitting the disease to domestic livestock.
Moreover, bull buffalo pose nearly zero threat because
the disease is one that affects the reproductive system,
causing an infected female to abort her first fetus.
For more info please read the press release below and
then please *TAKE ACTION* to help stop the slaughter
of America's wild buffalo. These are the only living
descendants of the great herds of millions that once
roamed America's landscape.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Every voice counts - everyone who
takes action will help make a difference for our buffalo.
Here are three things you and your friends can do:
1. Write a Letter to the Editor. A letter from you to
local and national press will show that the public supports
the protection of our wild buffalo, and abhors the shameful
actions of the DOL. This is a terrific way to get the
word out to your community as well. If the papers you
subscribe to aren't covering the issue, ask that they
do so. The slaughter of our buffalo is a national tragedy
and the media should be covering it thoroughly. Information
for submitting a letter to the editor is found on the
editorial page of your paper.
2. Contact your House Representative and strongly urge
them to support H.R. 3446, the Yellowstone
Buffalo Preservation Act. This is critical *bipartisan*
legislation aiming to put a halt on the slaughter of
Yellowstone's buffalo.To contact your House Representative
go to: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
3. Pass this on to at least five of your friends
and colleagues - help spread the word!
Many thanks for your help! It is up to us to stop the
slaughter - your action will make a difference.
-------------------------------------------------
*News Release
Montana Department of Livestock Shoots Bull Buffalo
on Yellowstone National Park Boundary
For Immediate Release: November 25, 2003
Contact: Josh Osher (406) 646-0070
West Yellowstone, MT: A lone bull buffalo was shot
by agents of the Montana Department of Livestock at
9:15 this morning as he attempted to return to Yellowstone
National Park.
The bull was hazed toward the Duck Creek Capture Facility
through private property in the Duck Creek housing area.
Agents were unable to capture the buffalo and shot him
from behind as he fled toward the park across land owned
by Dale Koelzer. Yellowstone Park rangers assisted.
Chris Mays witnessed the shooting, "The bull was
less than fifty yards from the park boundary when the
DOL opened fire. It took five shots to finally kill
him and the agents were laughing and smiling the whole
time. There is no conceivable reason for them to kill
bulls."
Bull buffalo are considered a "low risk" of
transmitting brucellosis, the state's justification
for the slaughter. There has never been a documented
case of wild buffalo transmitting brucellosis to livestock.
Congress took action to protect the Yellowstone herd
earlier this month with the introduction of the Yellowstone
Buffalo Preservation Act (H.R. 3446). The bipartisan
legislation--which would stop the hazing, capture, and
slaughter of Yellowstone buffalo--was introduced by
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D) and Rep. Charles Bass (R) on
November 5.
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working
in the field, everyday, to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's
wild buffalo. Volunteers defend the buffalo on their
traditional winter habitat and advocate for their protection.
Daily patrols stand with the buffalo on the ground they
choose to be on and document every move made against
them.
Yellowstone bison are members of the only herd with
continuously wild ancestry on its native range. The
herd is both genetically and behaviorally unique. Today's
kill marks the start of the DOL's 2003-2004 slaughter
season. Montana has killed more than 3,500 Yellowstone
buffalo since 1985.
Video Footage and Interviews Available upon Request.
-30-
To view an article on the recent killing, paste the
following address into your browser:
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/11/26/build/
wyoming/35-bullbisonkilled.inc
------------------------------------------------------
*Thank you for Supporting our East Coast Tour
After spending nearly two months on the road, I
would like to send my heartfelt gratitude to each of
you who made the East Coast Roadshow so successful.
I met with hundreds of caring and compassionate people
along the way, collected thousands of petition signatures,
recruited dozens of new volunteers, and made important
alliances with grassroots activists and community organizers.
Special thanks to those of you who helped organize presentations
in your communities and allowed us to share the plight
of the buffalo with East Coast audiences. The success
of the roadshow is testament to the power of grassroots
advocacy.
Thank you Kate and the staff of the DC Patagonia store
for starting things off strong; Sound Tribe Sector Nine
and the organizers of the Harmonic Convergence Festival
near Asheville, NC for letting us crash the Green Space
and blowing our minds in Appalachia; Warren of York
Pennsylvania for your kind heart; Barry and all the
fine folks at the Wolf Conservation Center of South
Salem, New York; Ibit and the Environmental Studies
Department at the University of Vermont; Tricia and
the organizers of the palate-pleasing Boston Vegetarian
Society Food Festival; Lynn and David for providing
a home away from home and making the Plymouth, NH show
such a success; Jennifer and the students and community
members of Keene, New Hampshire and Antioch New England;
Cynthia and Chris at the University of New England for
inviting me to your classes; Suzie and Tricia and all
the family and friends who made the Cape Cod talk possible;
Amy from Restore and Stephanie and the staff of the
Boston Patagonia Store; Christine at Brown University;
Danielle and all the anthropology students and faculty
at William and Mary; Christina, Danny, and the Blue
Ridge Group Sierra Club for organizing, accompanying,
and travelling so far to attend the Charlottesville
talk and support the buffalo; Virginia for the kindness,
hospitality, and nourishment that made us feel such
a part of the Mattaponai Pow Wow; thanks to Judy K.
Arvin of Feathers on the Wind Studio for creating the
beautiful and powerful "Tears for the Bison"
sculpture and travelling hundreds of miles to hand-deliver
it; Gerry and Students for Environmental Action for
such a lively and well-attended talk at Kansas State
in Manhattan. Thank you Stephany for the home-away-from-home
in the Garden Pad and for the love and inspiration that
made it all possible.
Gratitude to the buffalo for bringing us together and
standing strong through adversity.
We will be returning to the East next Fall. If you are
interested in hosting an event, please get in touch!
For the Buffalo,
Dan Brister
Buffalo Field Campaign
PO Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
(406) 646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
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