* URGENT! Last Chance to Tell Montana You Support Year-Round Habitat for Wild Buffalo
Lovely twilight silhouette of a wild buffalo. Please lend your voice to helping wild buffalo regain some of the lands that are their birthright! Photo by Jon Clark, used with permission. Click photo for larger image.
Tomorrow, August 24, is the last day to send comments to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Department of Livestock on their proposal to allow "some" bison access to year-round habitat on "portions" of Gallatin National Forest in Montana's Hebgen and Gardiner Basins, west and north of Yellowstone National Park. Access to important habitat will help alleviate harsh and unnecessary management actions and will help enable the survival and evolutionary potential of this currently ecologically extinct native wildlife species.
Please comment today, as this is a great opportunity to put forth our vision for wild bison in southwest Montana.
* TAKE ACTION! Support the National Bison Legacy Act
The wild American buffalo represents the very sovereignty of the North American continent, of the land herself. Please support efforts to elevate the status of American buffalo in the eyes of the people to that of national mammal; an honor that wild buffalo have more than earned. Artwork by Judith Dragonette, used by permission. Click image for larger view.
There is an effort underway to have the American Buffalo designated as the National Mammal of the United States. The National Bison Legacy Act, S.B. 3248 / H.R. 6304, was introduced by Senators Enzi (WY) and Johnson (SD) and Congressmen Clay (MO-1) and Fortenberry (NE-1). Buffalo Field Campaign supports this legislation and we need you to take action for the buffalo by contacting your US Senators and Representative and asking them to become a co-sponsor. While BFC does not support or endorse every position taken by the groups that originally proposed the Legacy Act, the general concept of elevating the status of buffalo in the eyes of the American public and the U.S. Congress can only help in our efforts to protect and defend the wild buffalo of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
* New & Amazing BFC Merchandise Available!
BFC's summer coordinator, Demmi, sports BFC's new "Wild is the Way" tee-shirt, designed by BFC volunteer Cindy Rosin. Visit our Bison Goods page to check out all the cool new things we have available!
In celebration of Buffalo Field Campaign's 15th anniversary, we have launched a new line of merchandise, which we are unveiling in this week's Update. Please visit our bison goods page to view and purchase this beautiful new merchandise. We are very excited to offer you the opportunity to support our work through these BFC-branded products you can use in your everyday lives. New merchandise includes: tee shirts, Klean Kanteen water bottles and pint cups, bumper stickers, and notecards.
* Join BFC for Wood Cut Week at BFC September 10-15, 2012
Mark your calendars and come to BFC! The week of September 10th through the 15th is BFC's Annual Wood Cut Week. We will be gathering, cutting, and stacking wood for the coming winter field season. Bring your chain saw if you have one and bring lots of friends! Room and board will be provided and there's also plenty of camping space available. Please email Mike Mease for more info or call him at 406-646-0070.
* 2012 West Coast Road Show Schedule is Posted!
BFC's Campaign Coordinator Mike Mease will be hitting the road in the middle of September for a short road show to Oregon and California to share music, stories, video, and activism inspired by the Yellowstone bison. He'll be joined by musicians GoodShield and Phoenix for what promises to be a handful of very special events. Please join BFC if you live in or near the towns we'll be visiting. Email Mike for more details or to help promote these events.
View the 2012 Schedule and download posters to place around your community to help get the word out!
* 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 4,300 individual buffalo. Wild bison are currently ecologically extinct throughout their native range in North America.
2011-2012 Total Buffalo Killed: 33
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: 3
2011-2012 Killed by Angry Residents:
2011-2012 Highway Mortality: 2
2010-2011 Total: 227
2009-2010 Total: 7
2008-2009 Total: 22
2007-2008 Total: 1,631
* Total Since 2000: 4,008*
*includes lethal government action, trap-related fatalities, quarantine/experiments, hunts, highway mortality
* Last Words ~ GoodShield Aguliar
"Iron Horse, you have marked the beginning
of a great sadness for our people
And the blood of our buffalo have stained these plains forever
And we see before us our ways of life nearing oblivion
But we will walk this trail of tears for seven generations
And there will then be a great awakening
That will breathe life, once again into the fire with no end
As individuals, we are much like fingers and can be easily broken
But when we unite, we make one mighty fist..."
~ GoodShield Aguilar
From his song, "Transcontinental Conspiracy." GoodShield is a very talented Native musician and BFC family member. Learn more about this amazing buffalo warrior and his incredible music at www.goodshieldaguilar.com. You can catch him on BFC's 2012 West Coast Road Show, as he will be traveling with Mike Mease and playing at every event. Friday, Aug. 24, is GoodShield's birthday ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BROTHER!
If anyone has submissions for Last Words just 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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