| Yellowstone Bison Slaughter
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| Weekly
Update from the Field April 16, 2009 |
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Update from the Field
* Volunteers Needed Now & in the Summer!
* Food for Patrols: Donations Needed
* Celebrate Mothers: Human and Bison
* BFC Attends IBMP Meetings in Bozeman
* It Was a Blast! Bluegrass & Beyond BFC Benefit
* Last Words
* Kill Tally
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* Update from the Field
Dear Buffalo Friends,
Yellowstone Rangers hazed a small mixed group of buffalo
that were a few miles inside the Park border, near Gardiner,
Montana. Over the past two weeks, these buffalo have been
moving within the Park in the areas of Powerline Flats
and Shooter Flats, the former marking the zone where management
actions are triggered. We are hopeful that these buffalo
will find satisfaction in the grasses a little deeper
inside the Park so they are not harassed any longer.
Horse Butte is again teeming with buffalo! Everywhere
we look there's a group of buffalo, grazing, playing,
and enjoying their time unmolested by agents. It's encouraging
to see how healthy the buffalo look, and it shows in their
playfulness with one another. It has been really amazing
for us to see them move the way they want to, on their
own terms, coming to the Butte, disappearing in one morning
only to return again a few days later with many more friends.
Not all of the buffalo that migrate towards Horse Butte
have made it, however. On Saturday night and again during
the dark and early hours of Monday morning, at least fifteen
buffalo were struck and consequently killed while trying
to cross Highway 191 on their way to Horse Butte. Astoundingly,
no humans were hurt in these collisions; but people may
not always be so lucky. Some of the buffalo died on impact,
others survived with injuries so severe that one local
resident, and agents from the Department of Livestock
and Fish, Wildlife & Parks shot them to end their
suffering. Patrols suspect that there are a couple other
injured buffalo that have eluded the agents' gunshots
to find a quiet place to die alone. We are keeping an
eye out for them, but we hope their suffering is over
and that they are undiscovered so, should they die, they
help sustain bears, wolves and ravens, rather than being
transported by officials to the local dump.
Bison are nearly impossible to see in the dark, due to
their dark coats and non-reflective eyes. They do not
fear and bound across the road as other animals do; they
take their time to graze along the highway where, due
to plowing, some of the first grasses appear after a long
winter. Sometimes they even choose to bed down on the
warm asphalt that has dissected their migratory path.
In the dark, people never even see bison in the road until
it's too late, especially traveling at high speeds, as
was the case in the three separate incidents this week.
You, dear buffalo supporters, have helped us save countless
buffalo lives along the highway by enabling us to purchase
professional
warning signs that alert motorists to the presence
of bison on the road. Over the past few years, the use
of these signs has prevented more bison - and possibly
human - injuries and deaths than we can imagine. However,
in the dark of night, the task of warning motorists is
very dangerous and difficult. While BFC has been running
all-night patrols, we need help from the state who must
take on some responsibility to increase awareness and
to help make the highway less dangerous for bison and
travelers. With fewer than 3,000 bison left in the last
wild population, these gentle giants cannot sustain being
lost to the highways, especially with the management actions
of the Interagency Bison Management Plan taking such a
senseless, heavy toll.
In years past, BFC was instrumental in getting the Montana
Department of Transportation to erect marquee signs that
warn of bison on the highway, and we were successful in
getting the speed limits lowered from 70mph to 55mph on
Highway 191 from Fir Ridge to West Yellowstone, the 10-mile
stretch of asphalt in the middle of the bison's migration
corridors. Bison frequently cross this busy road to get
to other, favored habitat. However, DOT had changed the
signs to read "Animals on Highway" instead of
"Bison on Highway," which is much less effective,
and the speed limit has not been strictly enforced. Since
the tragedy of these recent incidents, BFC
has again appealed to the state's Department of Transportation,
Governor Schweitzer and other Montana decision-makers
asking them to increase warning signs, enforce lowered
speed limits, and secure funding to implement safe passage
projects so that bison and other wildlife may cross this
busy stretch of road safely. A thoughtful coalition of
powerful local and national groups have also sent a letter
to Montana decision-makers as well as Montana's U.S. Senators
urging them to take immediate action. Montana recently
received over $200 million from the federal government
for highway projects, and we are hopeful the state will
allocate some of that money for our collective requests.
TAKE ACTION: If you are a Montana resident, visitor to
Yellowstone, if you or your loved ones travel through
this region, or if you simply love wild bison, your voice
is critical! Please contact the Montana
Department of Transportation and Montana
Governor Brian Schweitzer, strongly urging them to
make highways safer for America's last wild bison and
the people who travel through this region.
Thank you for all that you do to help the buffalo! We
could not be here working in their defense without your
dedication and support.
Roam Free!
~Stephany
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* Volunteers Needed Now & in the Summer!
With the buffalo's migration finally underway, we are
in need of volunteers for both spring and summer. If you've
ever wanted to experience the splendor of the Yellowstone
Ecosystem, this is the way to do it! Whether joining us
on the front lines for the first time or as a returning
volunteer, we need you! BFC is looking for folks for our
spring field season and for the summer months when volunteers
run our outreach tables in Yellowstone and Grand Teton
National Parks. We are also looking for a Maintenance
Coordinator who is mechanically inclined and can help
keep our vehicles and cabins in running order. There are
many ways to plug in at BFC: in the field, in our offices,
and around the property -- opportunities abound, and any
skills you bring we can put to good use. Help bear witness
and strengthen the voice for wild buffalo. It is especially
helpful if you have a valid drivers license and can drive
a standard. BFC provides room, board, and training and
we can outfit you with necessary gear.
If you are interested in volunteering this spring field
season, please contact Brock or Will, our volunteer coordinators,
at volunteer"at"buffalofieldcampaign.org
or call 406-646-0070. People interested in volunteering
for our summer campaign, or interested in the summer Maintenance
Coordinator position should contact Mike at mease"at"wildrockies.org
or call 406-646-0070. See you in West Yellowstone with
the last wild buffalo!
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* Food for Patrols: Donations Needed
The spring has brought snow, warm days, and lots of buffalo
out of the park. We are now running full patrols and people
are spending between 8 and 10 hours a day in the field
documenting the migration. We are also running night patrols
to warn travelers of buffalo crossing Highway 191. This
time of year, with the long hours, food is a needed friend
for our tireless volunteers. We could use donations of
coffee, hot chocolate, chocolate (dark is great!), energy
bars, fruit bars, candy, hot apple cider mix, chips, crackers,
jam, and peanut butter.
If you can assist us with food donations for our field
patrols, please contact BFC's Kitchen Coordinator, Grumble,
at kitchen@buffalofieldcampaign.org
or send packages to BFC-Kitchen, P.O. Box 957, West Yellowstone,
MT 59758. All donations are tax deductible. In lieu of
in-kind donations, you can make a secure online monetary
contribution for "patrol food" by clicking
here.
THANK YOU!
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* Celebrate Mothers: Human and Bison
Mother's Day is a perfect time to reflect on the Earth
we intend to leave to future generations. Will we "see
beyond our own time" to ensure that wild bison roam
free? That our children's children will have the chance
to marvel at these magnificent wild creatures? This is
what Buffalo Field Campaign works for, with your generous
support. We will send a beautiful card to the person of
your choice. This year, our popular Mother's Day card
features a hand-drawn (and reproduced) original copied
from a smaller, accompanying photo of mom and baby in
Yellowstone. Our card is appropriate for all the nurturing
relationships you'd like to honor with a gift to BFC.
The deadline for orders
is Wednesday, April 22, 2009. A minimum
donation of $15 is requested for each card you would like
us to send. For more information, and to order, click
here.
Or send a check or money order (no cash, please) to: BFC
/ PO Box 957 / West Yellowstone, MT 59758. Thank You!
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* BFC Attends IBMP Meetings in Bozeman
On Wednesday and Thursday, a small group from BFC traveled
to Bozeman to attend the Interagency Bison Management
Plan meetings. Ironically, after a long discussion over
improving public process and input, when BFC asked a question
during public comment, we were cut off. Though two agency
heads did respond to our question after the meeting, it
was a case in point that the public voice is given very
little, if any, weight.
Throughout the meetings the public called on the agencies
to scrap the Interagency Bison Management Plan and start
over with a new Environmental Impact Statement, and we
highlighted the need for habitat outside Yellowstone National
Park. Even the Montana State Veterinarian, Marty Zaluski,
representing the Department of Livestock, stated that
slaughtering buffalo as has been their practice is not
sustainable. To our amazement, after years of making these
requests, it seems it's finally sinking in: On the second
day of the meeting, the agencies themselves brought up
the idea of initiating an Environmental Impact Statement,
while they also underscored the need for acquiring more
habit for buffalo outside Yellowstone's boundaries. During
public comment, those of us who spoke maintained that
the status quo is disastrously failing wild buffalo while
we let them know we were encouraged that they would consider
more habitat and scrapping the IBMP to start over with
a plan that responds to the changing environment, new
science, and with respect for buffalo as valued, native
wildlife. The lesson here is that we are making a difference
and must never let up.
Many thanks to Jim, Genevieve and River of Buffalo Allies
of Bozeman for once again opening your home to BFC so
we could attend both days of these meetings and spend
quality time with fellow buffalo advocates.
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* It Was a Blast! Bluegrass & Beyond BFC Benefit
What a night! The Pour House was packed on Saturday night
for "Bluegrass & Beyond: A Benefit for Buffalo
Field Campaign." Sponsored by BFC and Buffalo Allies
of Bozeman, the night was a success. There were hundreds
of people in attendance, learning about the buffalo and
dancing to the amazing music of very talented local bands:
everyone there was thinking about the buffalo, and many
took the time to take action, learn more, and help keep
BFC on the front lines and help create a Montana where
wild bison are free to roam and are cherished for their
existence.
WE GIVE THANKS:
To BFC volunteer Art Brown for being inspired to organize
the event. To Buffalo Allies of Bozeman for co-sponsoring
and supporting the entire effort, creating flyers, doing
outreach, speaking, tabling, and so much more! To all
the BFC and BAB volunteers who helped run our long stretch
of tables. To all the BFC volunteers who stayed at camp
to be with the buffalo. To the Pour House for the space
provided. To all the wonderful businesses who donated
terrific raffle items. To Clarence for his incredible
MCing talents. To NRDC for their support and for speaking
so passionately. To the talented bands who gave their
time and energy to the buffalo and inspired everyone to
cut a rug: Billy, Greg Keeler, Comstock Lode, Bridger
Creek Boys, Thermal Grass, Jawbone Railroad, and 10 Foot
Tall & 80 Proof. And to everyone who attended the
event and took action for the buffalo! THANK YOU!!
View
some photos from this fun event here.
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* Last Words
"I don't think it's suitable for us to conduct large
[bison] population reductions."
~ Marty Zaluski, Montana State Vet, at the Interagency
Bison Mangement Plan meetings in Bozeman, April 8-9. BFC
agrees wholeheartedly and we will hold you to these words,
Marty!
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* Kill Tally
AMERICAN BISON ELIMINATED
from the last wild population in the U.S.
2008-2009 Total: 17
2008-2009 Slaughter: 0
2008-2009 Hunt: 1
2008-2009 Quarantine: 0
2008-2009 Shot by Agents: 1
2008-2009 Highway Mortality: 15
2007-2008 Total: 1,631
Total Since 2000: 3,698*
*includes lethal government action, quarantine, hunts,
highway mortalities |
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Media & Outreach
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media"at"wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
BFC is the only group working in the field every day
in defense of the last wild buffalo population in the
U.S.
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