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LAST CHANCE! Order Buffalo-Friendly Mother's Day Cards
Now!
The deadline to order handcrafted Mother's Day cards
is tomorrow, Friday, April 25. Please take advantage
of this opportunity to express your love and gratitude
for the nurturing women in your life in a way that also
helps the last wild buffalo. BFC can accept online orders
only at this time. Contact barb at buffalo@wildrockies.org
with questions or for more information.
ORDER NOW: http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/aboutus/artthoughts/mothersday08.html
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* Update from the Field
In the wake of the largest wild American buffalo slaughter
since the 1800s, fewer than 2,300 buffalo remain. How
can Yellowstone National Park possibly save face? They
have shamefully joined the ranks of the 19th century
hide hunters, who wastefully soaked this continent with
buffalo blood.
Last Thursday, Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone
Superintendent Suzanne Lewis gathered in Bozeman, Montana
to make an "historic announcement." Did they
admit to the shame of killing more wild buffalo than
at any time since the 19th century? No. They celebrated
yet another slap in the face to the last wild population:
the most recent land deal with the Church Universal
& Triumphant. It's a bad deal for bison that will
initially allow for only 25 captured, tested, and tagged
buffalo to temporarily access a fraction of their native
habitat. Read BFC's press release http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/press0708/pressreleases0708/041708.html
The population has been reduced to such a dangerously
low number the Park Service and Montana have been forced
to cease slaughtering buffalo this season. It doesn't
have anything to do with the fact that they recognize
they are decimating this population and it's unique
genetics, but simply that the Interagency Bison Management
Plan halts slaughter once the herds are reduced to 2,000
individuals. The Park says bulls may still be sent to
slaughter because they are too "big and aggressive"
to be held captive while the Park's grass grows green.
Everyone knows bull bison pose nearly a zero risk of
transmitting brucellosis. In fact, the transmission
of brucellosis from any wild bison to cattle has *never*
happened; it is only a theory. We also all know that
this buffalo war is not about brucellosis, but about
money and control of land and control of wildlife. The
truth of the brucellosis fraud is finally spreading,
as indicated in the New York Times editorial last week,
"The Sorry Myth of Brucellosis," which many
of you saw. If you haven't seen it, check out http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/opinion/18fri4.html?ex=1209182400&en
=78ab62392b4f9edc&ei=5070&emc=eta1
On the North Boundary, no buffalo have been transported
to slaughter since we last wrote to you. Hazing operations
continue, however, and more than 250 wild buffalo are
being held captive in the Stephens Creek trap. Twenty
buffalo calves have been born in captivity. So far,
at least three of them have died as did one of the mothers.
There are a handful of bulls who have walked onto private
property, where there's a handful of cattle, so it's
possible the Department of Livestock could arrive to
shoot them. At the time of this writing, they are still
alive.
On the West Boundary, no buffalo have been harassed
by agents this week. This respite is critical, as winter
has been extremely hard on the buffalo, who are doing
all they can to survive after sustaining themselves
on starvation foods for the bulk of the snowy season.
A hazing operation would certainly kill them. Pregnant
buffalo are especially vulnerable right now; plus they
carry the future which is teetering on the brink at
this point. We are shocked at the numbers of female
buffalo we've seen who are either not pregnant or have
been seen with afterbirth materials but no calf. However,
patrols did spot four new calves on Horse Butte this
week who all look quite healthy. And there are a handful
of bulls we've been seeing that look big and healthy.
It is hard to hold on to hope in the wake of such a
massive buffalo slaughter. But, we do. Buffalo have
shown that they are strong survivors and the voices
of their advocates are also growing and diversifying.
Keeping in mind that we are dealing with a centuries-old
range war, we know change is going to take time, but
it will come. We are on the edge of it now. We give
thanks to all of you who continue to apply pressure
to decision-makers, spread the word, and help keep BFC
on the front lines so we can tell this story. Endless
pressure, endlessly applied will stop the seasons of
slaughter from continuing. Be thorns in the sides of
these agencies. Never give up. The buffalo don't.
Roam Free,
~Stephany
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* In Honor of Phil Morton ~ Celebrating a Buffalo
Warrior's Earth Day Birthday
Dear Friends,
Earth Day would have been Phil's 63rd birthday. Phil,
a long-time and ardent supporter of the Yellowstone
buffalo and the BFC, was an inspiration to those working
on the front-lines to protect the buffalo. A first-rate
wildlife videographer in his own right, Phil believed
in BFC's mission to document and share with the world
the buffalo's plight. ... in his memory and honor, and
in honor of Earth Day, I'm asking you to make a donation
to the Buffalo Field Campaign https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=1807
I live in one of the most wildlife rich areas of this
country. When I see elk, deer, moose, and antelope on
the land, never in my wildest dreams would i think that
if i came back the next day that they wouldn't be there
on the landscape ... so different with the buffalo:
when i see them on the bluffs, on the butte, anywhere
on the earth, i feel honored to be in their presence
... and then i am filled with anxiety --- will they
be there tomorrow? will they be needlessly killed because
of the livestock industry's political power structure
and influence driving the IBMP mismanagement? ... and
then the deep sadness returns ...
Believe me when I say this has been a tremendously sad
and trying season as we have had the largest buffalo
slaughter since the 1800s, mainly carried out by Yellowstone
National Park! Buffalo Field Campaign staff and volunteers
have been out in the field video-documenting the mismanagement
acts by the agencies who are signatories to the Interagency
Bison Management Plan.
Please visit our web site at www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
to learn more about what has been going on and the various
ways BFC is trying to stop the slaughter.
Last year, through the generosity of our friends contributing
in memory and honor of Phil and Earth Day, we were able
to purchase new field radios, absolutely critical elements
in communicating what is happening in the field to both
the main office and others on patrol. This year I am
asking those who can contribute do so for our over-all
general needs. Every day, 7 days per week, we run a
minimum of 4 patrol cars here in the West Yellowstone
area, and two in Gardiner MT just outside the north
border of Yellowstone National Park. Gas this week is
running at $3.549/gallon, up over a dollar from last
year. Feeding 30-40 people per week is also expensive.
Please give whatever you can.
You can make your donation online at:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=1807
or you can send a check made out to BFC addressed to:
Office Coordinator, Buffalo Field Campaign, PO Box 957,
West Yellowstone MT 59758-0957
Either way, please indicate that the donation is in
honor and memory of Phil. I know that if he were still
alive he would be on the front lines with BFC. As it
is, his spirit inspires us to continue in our work.
BuffaLove,
barb
BFC Office Coordinator
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* Goodsearch: Help BFC Every Time You Search
the Internet
Here's a painless way to raise funds for BFC: Instead
of Google-ing, go to http://www.goodsearch.com
and enter Buffalo Field Campaign as the charity you
want to support, then do your search.
According to Goodsearch's information, if 10,000 people
searched twice a day, it would generate $73,000.
There is a link to Goodsearch on our web site: http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
on the right-hand sidebar.
Pretty painless, eh? THANK YOU!
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* Photo of the Week
http://gallery.buffalofieldcampaign.org/v/photo_of_the_week/2008-04-24.html
Still skiing in late-April! BFC volunteer, Bud Pulaski,
looks for wild buffalo along Cougar Creek near Yellowstone's
western boundary.
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* Last Words
1873 (Buffalo Diary)
"1873 was a very bad year for me
When all I feared just disappeared so suddenly
They got their tickets for the train
Raised their weapons and took aim
Laughing from the railroad tracks
They shot my brothers in the back
1873
No more thunder on the ground
Birds were flying round and round
Though the dust we kicked up no longer could be seen
And 1873 was a very bad year for me
1873 was a very bad year for me
We cradled their babies
Made up their houses
Covered their feet
They took what they needed
Never took us for granted
But they were defeated when people shot at me
In 1873
Laid out in the broken sun
Rain beat on us like a drum
The rhythm of that emptiness which shot my spirit free
In 1873
1873 was a very bad year for me"
~ Edie Brickell
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