* Update from the Field: Judge Orders Halt to Helicopter Hazing
BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.
We've been seeing a lot of grizzly bear sign this spring. A few patrols have seen actual grizzlies. Buffalo Field Campaign's documentation of the presence of the protected bears has helped secure a Temporary Restraining Order in U.S. District Court to ground the helicopter. Attorney Rebecca Smith, representing the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, successfully argued in court on Monday, May 14 to prohibit the use of helicopters for hazing buffalo in threatened grizzly bear habitat. The Order, issued by Judge Charles C. Lovell, prevents the Interagency Bison Management Plan agencies "from conducting further bison helicopter hazing operations...pending further order of this Court." Buffalo Field Campaign's expert assistance and video and photographic evidence played a central role in the case. The grounding of the helicopter is a major and immediate victory that is already being felt on the ground.
BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.
For the first time in at least fifteen springs we needn't fear the chopper's overwhelming noise and vibrations or squint our eyes to the powerful dust-stirring gusts of the rotor wash. We don't have to see the buffalo frantic with terror or watch grizzly bears, moose, elk, eagles, swans, and herons--and so many other precious species--flee from the deafening noise. We don't have to watch newborn calves run on broken or dislocated legs as the chopper hovers and lunges from overhead. Spring is blooming along the Yellowstone boundary and, for at least the time being, the hell of the 'copter is over.
BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.
The landscape on the western edge of Yellowstone is the buffalo's home. The south-facing, grass-growing slopes of the Horse Butte Peninsula are birthing grounds; pregnant mothers gather here to gain strength and nourishment after the long and cold winter; newborn calves, reddish-orange and brimming with life, draw their firsts breaths and take their first steps here. The meadows, bluffs, banks, and forests that envelop the Madison River on its westward course from Yellowstone National Park comprise a rare and precious patch of Earth still blessed with wild buffalo, grizzly bears, wolves, and wolverines. This is one of the very last places in America where wild buffalo still leave hoof prints, tufts of hair, and pie shaped droppings.
 
BFC file photos by Stephany. Click photos for larger images.
The Montana Department of Livestock, helicopter or not, refuses to tolerate buffalo on this landscape. Since Monday we have documented one hazing operation after another as a host of horse-mounted agents, from the Department of Livestock, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the National Park Service, do everything in their power--and some things beyond their rightful power--to clear the land of the buffalo who belong here. Trespassing, chasing buffalo past the point of exhaustion, depriving thirsty animals of water, and separating newborn calves from their mothers are not too much for these livestock agents, game wardens, and park rangers.
BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.
The Galanis family thought they could help the buffalo when they bought land on Horse Butte and designated it as a preserve where buffalo and other wildlife would be safe and protected. They alerted the Department of Livestock to the fact that the buffalo are welcome on the preserve and that the agents, buffalo hazing, and harassment are not. On Tuesday morning, three horse-mounted agents of the Montana Department of Livestock willfully disregarded the rights and wishes of the Galanis family and entered their land without permission to chase away the buffalo. We were there at the Galanis' invitation to greet the agents at the property line, remind them that they were trespassing, to tell them that the buffalo are welcome, and to document their illegal entry. The agents ignored our warnings, charging their horses at the buffalo and chasing them toward the back of the property. Justine and I got on our bikes and followed, videotaping and shooting photos as the frightened buffalo fled the horsemen.
   
BFC file photos by Justine and Stephany. Click photos for large images.
Even without the helicopter, hazing is intolerable. The agents ran the buffalo at top speed up and over the crest of Horse Butte. We left our bikes with our patrol partners and sprinted after the haze with our cameras. The things we witnessed then and since are things no one should have to see or endure: calves separated from their herds by the strong current of the Madison River, their mothers emitting plaintive bellows; the pronounced limp of a newborn calf as it flees the horsemen, the umbilical cord still trailing from its mom; collapsed and panting calves being prodded from the ground to run; protective mothers turning to face the riders, "back off, already!"
This is what the lives of wild buffalo are like this week along Yellowstone's western boundary. Buffalo, members of America's last wild population, are being chased as you read this. With the grounding of the helicopter we achieved a major victory that will benefit the entire landscape and all its inhabitants. The helicopter will probably not be back this spring. But to mistake this victory for the end of the struggle would be dangerous and dishonest. Hazing buffalo, by whatever means, must stop. Buffalo Field Campaign will continue to fight for the buffalo in the field, in the courts, and in the policy arena. We will be here to document every last action against the buffalo and to do everything we can to further their protection. Please support us in this crucial work.
For the Buffalo,
Dan Brister
Executive Director
Buffalo Field Campaign
* A Photo Essay from this Week's Government Buffalo Abuse
These are a few of the images that illustrate the buffalo abuse that Dan describes above. BFC file photos by Stephany. Click on photos for larger images.
   
 
 
  
  
* On Mother's Day BFC Celebrates Wild Bison Calving Season
Baby buffalo with mom. BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.
Tuesday, May 15th is the end of "tolerance" of bison in the state of Montana, though they are never truly "tolerated" by the governments of Montana and the United States.
Tuesday I found myself on standby patrol biking down the Galanis property, a buffalo reserve on the Horse Butte Peninsula. That day I biked, hiked, jogged, and sprinted up and over the saddle of the Butte, walked and ran down the south side of the Butte through thick sagebrush, and then biked up Gallatin National Forest road 6697 for a total of seven hours of challenging physical activity. Once back with our patrol team, my partner and I spoke of wanting ice cream and ice cold drinks; of being exhausted, tired, and sore. We marveled at what we had just witnessed; the haze of 40 buffalo full of pregnant mamas, newborn calves, and females who had just given birth. What must they be feeling now? The need for a cool drink from the Madison? A soft bit of grass to bed down in? Time to nurse and play and BE a baby buffalo?
This is why I come to the Hebgen Basin each year for Mother's Day: to celebrate and honor the gift of wild buffalo calving season! To bring the next generation of buffalo warriors to our family at Buffalo Field Campaign. This year a beautiful new banner was crafted through the efforts of several volunteers. The canvas was salvaged, sewn and made ready to hang by volunteers from Colorado and Washington. The words and artwork were painted by a long time volunteer here at camp. This volunteer took the time and energy to include the kids in the project; patiently helping a two year old, four year old, six year old, and eight year old add their love and light to the sign. "Free Coffee, Free Cookies, Free the Buffalo" is how it reads (see photo below). We spent the day honoring the buffalo, feeling the tender time that is calving season, and eating cookies and playing in the Madison River.
It was 10 years ago that I had an experience that changed my life and brought about the inspiration for a Mother's Day celebration of wild buffalo mamas and calves. I was with my then six year old son. We were running, carefully picking our way down through the sage brush of the south side of Horse Butte. He was wild and free and full of laughter as he cascaded down the Butte. I was smiling and jogging after him. He stopped abruptly in the sage and looked back at me. I'll never forget his face; a loss of innocence. There, lying in the sage, was a dead baby buffalo that had been hazed to death. The day before had been the large haze off of the Butte. I tried my best, as we mother's do, to comfort and explain what he was witnessing...but what could I say? It was then that I decided to take a positive action for the buffalo and for my family. That is part of what the buffalo teach us here in the field; love and commitment to family. When those mamas and babies are hazed to exhaustion and collapse, they stay close, they protect, they do what it takes to make it through with their family intact.
I continue to learn so much from the buffalo. I continue to receive such gifts, such wisdom from their magnificence. I will continue to stand up for their right to roam and calve and BE wherever they wish to be. I invite all of you; mamas, children, supporters of the buffalo, to join me, here in the field, next May for Mother's Day: Free Coffee, Free Cookies, Free the Buffalo...Wild Buffalo Calving Season...a Celebration of Love!!
Some of our BFC family celebrating Mother's Day and Wild Buffalo Calving Season at Rainbow Point. BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.
For the buffalo-
Justine Sanchez
BFC Board Member
* TAKE ACTION - Your Voice Holds Power!
Please click on the Take Action button to make your voice heard for America's last wild herds! Even if you have already taken action on these, it's okay, you can edit your letters to keep them fresh and new with current information from the field. These decision-makers need to keep hearing from you. As Brock Evans, one of the authors of the Endangered Species Act says, "it takes endless pressure endlessly applied." Thank you!
* Outreach Volunteers Wanted for Summer Tabling!
Buffalo Field Campaign will begin our summer outreach inside Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in June, and we are looking for passionate, articulate folks who can help run our information tables, talk to park visitors, and help build a strong constituency for wild buffalo. BFC provides food, lodging, camping, gear, and transportation to and from our table in the Park. We ask for at least a two week commitment in order to accommodate training and orientation. This is a great opportunity to get involved and advocate for America's last wild buffalo!
Please contact Tony for more information.
* BFC Wish List: Assorted Optics
We could use some help to (literally) keep our sights on the buffalo. We find ourselves in need of new optics: Cameras, binoculars, spotting scopes, and equipment to steady these optics. Below is a section of our wish list that focuses on optics including quantities that will help keep all BFC field volunteers well-equipped. Any contribution for these items is extremely helpful and important to the campaign, whether it is a ten dollar donation towards optics or the entirety of the list. Thanks to each and every one of you for loving the buffalo and for keeping BFC going and our volunteers prepared in the field every day. If you can help with these assorted optics wishes please contact our gear coordinator.
Zoom lenses for SLR digital photo cameras (Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Zoom Lens; Rokinon 650-1300mm Super Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR still cameras; Opteka 650-1300mm High Definition Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR still cameras)
(6-10 pairs) compact high-resolution binoculars, water- and fog-proof, 7-10x 35-70mm magnification
(6-10 pairs) full-size high-resolution binoculars, water- and fog-proof, 7-10x 35-70mm magnification
(3-5) high-resolution spotting scopes, standard tripod- or window-mounted, with zoom, 16-60x 60(+)mm magnification
(3) compact tripods
(3) full-size fluid head video tripods
(3-5) Walking/Ski pole Monopods with standard camera mount (eg. Leki, Tracks brands)
View BFC's complete Wish List
* Endangered Buffalo Fact of the Week
FACT: [B]ison grazing increases animal diversity on the landscape. Bison grazed areas increase the foraging efficiency of prairie dogs which in turn are the main food source of ferrets (Krueger 1986). Prairie dogs also provide food for foxes, hawks and eagles and their colonies are home to other small mammals and reptiles. (Dr. Sylvia Fallon, from The Ecological Importance of Bison in Mixed-grass Prairie Ecosystem
Bison conservation papers can be downloaded and reviewed HERE
* By the Numbers
AMERICAN BUFFALO ELIMINATED from the last wild population in the U.S. The last wild population is currently estimated at fewer than 3,700 individual buffalo. Wild bison are currently ecologically extinct throughout their native range in North America.
2011-2012 Total Buffalo Killed: 29
2011-2012 Government Capture: 10
2011-2012 Buffalo Released from Capture: 7
2011-2012 Government Slaughter:
2011-2012 Held for Government Experiment: 3
2011-2012 Died In Government Trap:
2011-2012 Miscarriage in Government Trap:
2011-2012 State & Treaty Hunts: 28
2011-2012 Quarantine:
2011-2012 Shot by Agents:
2011-2012 Killed by Angry Residents:
2011-2012 Highway Mortality: 1
2010-2011 Total: 227
2009-2010 Total: 7
2008-2009 Total: 22
2007-2008 Total: 1,631
* Total Since 2000: 4,004*
*includes lethal government action, trap-related fatalities, quarantine/experiments, hunts, highway mortality
* Last Words
There is an Ache...
There is an ache in the soil for what has been and no longer is.
Missing is the sounding and pounding of the bison herd on the skin of Mother Earth.
There is an ache in the air for what has been and no longer is.
Missing is the steamy breath of the bison herd as it mixes with the cold morning air.
There is an ache in the energy body for what has been and no longer is.
Missing is the powerful presence of the bison herd that moves and shapes the energy surrounding it.
There is an ache in the heart for what has been and no longer is.
Missing is the bison child-the one who roams wild and free, whose song of belonging and community has been silent for far too long.
~ Janet Woodland
Do you have submissions for Last Words? Send them to us. Thank you for all the poems, songs, quotes and stories you have been sending! Keep them coming!
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