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Update from the Field
Dear Buffalo Friends,
Since we last wrote to you about the violent capture
and slaughter of two bull buffalo, things in the field
have been less tragic. It's actually been a pretty good
couple of weeks for our "fractious" bison
brothers. A few bulls have been hanging out in their
native Montana habitat, much to the chagrin of Department
of Livestock (DOL) agents.
Early in the week, four DOL agents attempted to haze
a couple of these bulls out of Yellowstone Village -
a neighborhood where the buffalo are more than welcome
by local homeowners. The DOL managed only to chase the
bulls into the woods and lose them. On Wednesday the
DOL returned to chase two other bulls off of their chosen
ground, and proceeded to lose them, too.
Meanwhile, our road warriors have travelled many, many
miles and completed their West Coast and Southwest Road
Shows! Thank you to all who helped organize events,
hosted and/or attended presentations, and joined the
growing ranks of wild buffalo advocates! Josh gives
a report from the first ever Southwest road show below,
and please stay tuned for an update from the West Coast.
Many thanks to Josh, Mike, Jesse and Seamus for hitting
the road and spreading the word to save the herd! Thanks
also to Good Shield and John Trudell for being such
a huge part of the West Coast events and for your incredible
support and inspiration.
Roam Free,
~Stephany
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* Contact Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
Two bulls have already been sent to slaughter for the
"crime" of entering Montana, hazing operations
are approaching full swing, Montana's impending canned
bison hunt is about a month away, and Interagency Bison
Management activities are looming. All this in spite
of the words of Montana's governor, Brian Schweitzer,
who claims again and again that wild bison will "enjoy
more tolerance" in Montana. He's also made public
statements that the DOL is "ill-equipped"
to manage wild buffalo. He's also been widely quoted
in the media stating that he wants a new plan and aims
to increase tolerance for wild buffalo. How long must
the buffalo wait, Governor? So far, the only "tolerance"
Montana or its governor has shown wild buffalo is constant
harassment, the slaughterhouse or a canned hunt. A cattleman
himself, Governor Schweitzer has done little to show
real tolerance for wild buffalo and we hold him responsible
for the continued death and harassment that the country's
last wild buffalo suffer at the hands of the Montana
Department of Livestock and all involved agencies. He
talks the talk, but just when does he plan to walk the
walk? How many more buffalo will needlessly die before
real action is taken? Please continue to put pressure
on Governor Schweitzer to honor his pledge of "more
tolerance" and to create a truly "New Montana"
where wild buffalo are honored and respected.
Governor Brian Schweitzer
State Capitol
Helena, MT 59620-0801
Phone: 1-406-444-3111
Fax: 1-406-444 5529
Email: BrianSchweitzer@mt.gov
------------------------------
* Southwest Road Show Wrap Up
Buffalo Field Campaign's first annual Southwest road
show has come to a close with the last show at the University
of Colorado last night. The road show was a great success
with shows throughout Colorado, Santa Fe, NM and Moab,
UT. Many great contacts were made as audiences large
and small shared in the story of America's last wild
buffalo. We hope to build on this year's success with
an expanded tour next year, including Arizona and more
of New Mexico. Please feel free to contact Josh at bfc-advocate@wildrockies.org
if you are interested in setting up an event for the
2007 Southwest road show.
Many thanks go out to everyone who supported this year's
effort. Thanks to Cristina, Lisa, Lanice, and Nick in
Crestone; Nicole and Forest Guardians, Tom, Lenny, and
Tim in Santa Fe; Mark, Marcus, Nancy and the Student
Ecology Club in Durango; Joan, Jim, and Lucas in Telluride;
Sarah, Laurel, and Top in Grand Junction; the Moab Info
Center and Jeff in Moab; Pat, Chris, Marlene, and Prairie
in Gunnison; Charlie, Wendy and HCCA in Crested Butte;
and Dave, Mike, and Niki in Boulder. So many others
helped make the road show a success including Greg,
Dave and the folks at Planetmind in Nederland who lent
us a Volkswagon Jetta powered by waste vegetable oil
to use for the tour and Aron who helped out during the
first week of the tour.
For the shaggy, wild ones,
Josh
------------------------------
* Last Words
"I said, 'Does this mean that you will be my enemy
if I move across the creek?' Crazy Horse laughed in
my face. He said, 'I am no white man! They are the only
people that make rules for other people, that say, "If
you stay on one side of this line it is peace, but if
you go on the other side I will kill you all."
I don't hold with deadlines. There is plenty of room;
camp where you please.' "
~ He Dog, close friend and associate of Crazy Horse,
in an interview in 1930
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