YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK CAPTURES 53 OF AMERICA'S LAST WILD BISON to eat

[donsu]

http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/press0708/pressreleases0708/020808.html


Park Intends to Slaughter Without Testing;
Calves May Be Sent to Experimental Quarantine Facility


-snip-

"The National Park Service is caving in to the unreasonable demands of Montana's livestock industry at the expense of an American icon, our national heritage," said Stephany Seay, media coordinator for Buffalo Field Campaign.

The bison were captured for following their natural migratory instincts and walking onto habitat that is privately owned by the Church Universal & Triumphant (CUT). CUT land hosts fewer than 250 head of cattle. Wild bison are also refused access to publicly owned Gallatin National Forest lands adjacent to Yellowstone National Park and CUT property. In the winter months, grasslands in the Park are obscured by deep snow and bison and other wild ungulates venture to lower-elevation habitat where they find critical forage necessary for survival.

Yellowstone National Park officials said they will send the adult bison to slaughter without first testing them for exposure to brucellosis.

Bison calves may be tested for brucellosis antibodies. If testing occurs, those testing negative for antibodies will be sent to a state-federal quarantine feasibility study facility, while the rest will be slaughtered. More than half of the calves previously captured and quarantined by the government have been slaughtered, while the rest are being raised in pens like livestock.
Cattle interests claim such actions are necessary to prevent the spread of brucellosis, a livestock disease introduced to native wildlife in the early 20th century, from wild bison to cattle. However, there has never been a documented case of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle.
-snip-
--------------------------

can't have beef profits down

greedy white men tried to kill off the bison once before

maybe they will succeed this time.

[CountAllVotes]

1. lots more here on this ...

Dear Buffalo Friends,

Buffalo blood continues to spill along the west and north boundaries
of Yellowstone National Park. As of this writing, 102 of America's
last wild bison have been killed in the so-called hunt. While the
Nez Perce began their hunt a little over a week ago, all the kills
this week have been by state hunters, with two killed in Gardiner and
the rest here in West Yellowstone. It has been hard on volunteers,
spending sacred time with these gentle creatures and being awestruck
by their majesty and presence on the landscape, only to watch them
fall to the bullet one after another. We can only hope that the
hunters we have spoken with will realize the obligation they have to
the future of wild buffalo and that they will become strong advocates
for year-round buffalo habitat in Montana. It is hard to imagine
that we've already lost 102 American bison to the hunt, and the
hazing/capture/slaughter season is just around the corner. All of
this buffalo death is explicitly to benefit the economic interests of
Montana's livestock industry.

Gardiner patrols based along Yellowstone's northern boundary have
seen a lot of buffalo mismanagement activity this week. On Monday,
36 wild buffalo were hazed by Montana Department of Livestock and
Yellowstone park rangers off of Church Universal & Triumphant (CUT)
land, back to the Arch in Yellowstone National Park. On Wednesday 49
buffalo were hazed by the same agents from the Stephens Creek bison
trap area - inside Yellowstone National Park - and back to the same
location. But today was the kicker in Gardiner. This morning a
group of 10 buffalo were hazed by the same cowboys off of CUT land to
a place in the park called Powerline Flats, and these buffalo are
currently being hazed deeper into the Park as I write. Then, again
this morning, BFC patrols monitored a haze that really underscores
the absurdity of calling Montana's buffalo hunt "fair chase." There
was a group of 12 buffalo that had crossed east, over the Yellowstone
River, and were found grazing within a cattle pasture owned by a
local outfitter who has a mere 25-head of cows on his land. The DOL
sounded dramatic when they told us that "the only thing standing
between the buffalo and these cows were the agents on the ground."

Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) and Yellowstone National Park
rangers claim they attempted to haze this group of buffalo back
across the river, but the buffalo didn't want to go that way. The
agents decided to push them instead to Highway 89 which runs
north/south through the town of Gardiner and into Yellowstone
National Park. The ridiculous thing was, the agents didn't try to
move the buffalo along the highway and back into the Park, which
would have been the easier and safer route for the buffalo. Instead,
they pushed them east and right up towards the hunt zone.
Incredible! The Department of Livestock claims that the buffalo
moved in that direction "of their own accord" yet since when do these
bison harassers ever let the buffalo chose their own direction? So,
the agents - DOL and National Park Service - moved the buffalo up
into the Travertine area of Gallatin National Forest, where the hunt
is currently taking place. And they want to call it a 'fair chase'
hunt.

After Gardiner patrols called to tell us this news, Arlo and I were
on the phones quickly, calling various agencies and trying to find
out what was going on. Why were the Park Service and Department of
Livestock hazing buffalo into the hunt zone, and why wasn't the hunt
being shut down during this operation? Why didn't the agents make an
effort to move them along the highway and back into the Park instead?
Why was the NPS even involved in pushing wild bison off of private
land into a hunt zone? The agencies had excuse after excuse and no
good explanation.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks at first confirmed that, yes, the
agents were going to push buffalo into the hunt zone. When we asked
if this was legal, they said "it's not illegal." Not illegal for
livestock agents and Yellowstone Park employees to push members of
America's last wild bison population into the hunt zone where they
can be shot? How in the world can they call this hunt "fair chase"
when the DOL and NPS are both interrupting and enabling it by forcing
buffalo into an area to be killed? There's nothing fair about the
way wild buffalo are treated in Montana. When we asked why they
didn't shut the hunt down for this hazing operation, they said that
they didn't because they don't have a game warden on the ground and
therefore didn't know if there were any hunters in the area. Glad to
know our wildlife is being protected! We told them there were,
indeed, hunters around, that we had seen them the day before.
Ironically, Gardiner has had less of a "successful" bison harvest
than they usually do because, until today, no thanks to the DOL and
NPS, there just hadn't been many buffalo moving into that area.
Amazing, to have an ongoing hunt and no wildlife agency out to
monitor the situation. Anything can happen. It seems BFC is doing
aspects of their job for them, as we are out there every day
monitoring the buffalo and the situations they face. NOTE: Just
before this Update was complete, we got a call from FWP saying that
they had met and agreed that this haze was not in the spirit of the
hunt, and they have subsequently placed an emergency closure in a
portion of this hunt zone. Though these buffalo, if they remain in
the hunt zone, are still in danger due to the DOL's actions, this
closure was the right move for FWP to make. No state hunters may
kill bison west of Eagle Creek until Saturday morning and first
shooting light. The closure does not apply to the Nez Perce, who are
hunting under treaty right. You can read FWP's press release about
the emergency closure here: http://fwp.mt.gov/news/article_6469.aspx

When we spoke with Yellowstone National Park officials and asked them
what was going on, they basically told us "we're just out supporting
this operation." How shameful for our National Park Service
employees to assist Montana livestock agents in harassing wild bison
by pushing them into a hunt zone. Then again, the Park Service
doesn't blink an eye at capturing, killing and quarantining the last
wild herd in the U.S. As Suzanne Lewis put it to us last year, her
biggest nightmare is a brucellosis transmission from wild bison to
cattle. The death of these sacred buffalo under her watch should be
the nightmare, and the fact that it isn't let's us all know that
something is very, very wrong.

Both FWP and the NPS said they had no decision-making in this hazing
operation, yet the DOL claims that it was an "Interagency decision."
Who's telling the truth? It's time to give these agencies a call
and let them know you are not falling for these cattle
industry-induced, taxpayer-funded government shenanigans
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/politicians.html.

Then there were the conversations with the Department of Livestock.
Arlo and I spoke with both the Montana State Vet Marty Zalusky and
the new Public Information Officer Steve Merritt, neither of whom
knew any details as to what their agents were conducting on the
ground. Later, after the hazing operation ended, they called Arlo
and ran through the list of excuses that make them get away scott
free every single time: They said the haze stopped 300 yards away
from the hunt zone, so that's why there was no need to call off the
hunt. But the buffalo kept walking towards the hunt zone, so in
effect, yes, they did haze them into it. And that's when they gave
us the line about the buffalo deciding to move to the hunt zone on
their own, and that's why they didn't try to push them back towards
the Park. The DOL also tried to use a little scare tactic with us,
telling us that one of the options they considered today was
capturing the buffalo instead. Are we supposed to be thankful, then,
that they hazed them into the hunt zone instead?

All in all it was an afternoon of frustrated government
mismanagement. If it weren't so tragic and real it could almost be
funny. This operation has unnecessarily placed a family group of
wild bison in danger, all for the sake of a handful of invasive
cattle and the thoughtless actions of livestock agents. How in the
world can any of these agencies hope to save face for the actions
they take against wild bison. Their actions will go down in history;
we are making sure of that. They hunt them, they haze them, they
capture, test, slaughter, quarantine, vaccinate.... we must put an
end to these negative actions; we must realize our positive vision of
wild buffalo on the landscape and help them reclaim their North
American home.

The Montana bison hunt ends a week from tomorrow, on February 15, and
on the 16th the Department of Livestock and cooperating agencies will
begin to be out in force to chase what wild buffalo remain in Montana
back into Yellowstone's harsh winter country. Next week, with your
help, we will put the pressure on. See below for details.

Thank you for being with us in solidarity for the wild buffalo.

Roam Free!
~Stephany

[Lorien]

2. Once again our government gives public lands into private hands

the National parks belong to ALL Americans-not the beef industry and their lobbyists.Yet grazing rights are given to cattlemen while they are taken away from the very animals the parks were set up to protects. Public funds used for private gain, once again. When will we all say "ENOUGH"!! What will it take? Bison, wolves and coyote SHOULD populate Yellowstone; there are few places outside of the parks for these magnificent creatures anymore. If the cattlemen don't like it, tough. As the GOP would say; they can always re-train for a different line of work. WE shouldn't be funding their corporate enterprises!

[blondie58]

5. absolutely, Lorien

when we start to mess with the natural ecosystem, we change the balance of nature. Every species has a role to play in this. Thanks for posting this, Stephanie.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

3. K&R n/t

[OneBlueSky]

4. America's first response to a problem is always to kill something or someone . . n/t

.

[donheld]

6. How large should we let this bison population get?

The last time, 2 1/2 years ago, the place was totally over run with bison. I'm not going to say they need to kill them, but there comes a time when something has to be done.

[NNN0LHI]

8. If they are not culled many more will die from disease or starvation

Same thing has to be done in Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I don't think people understand just how many of these rascals are running around out west.

They really are everywhere.

Don

[WinkyDink]

10. Same point about war.

[donheld]

13. That's exactly what I thought

We killed off their main predator, the wolf. So their numbers grow without stopping. Sometimes unpleasant things have to be done, but there's no other choice.

[NNN0LHI]

18. Sometimes its a blessing for the animal

They don't go for the healthy ones first. They go for the very old and disabled ones first. Limper's, most likely in a lot of pain, or other obvious injuries first. Prairie dog holes everywhere. I am surprised they are not all limping.

They sure are an amazing animal. I have gotten close to one of them before. Real close. So close I could smell the very strong musky scent. I was looking at him in his huge brown eyes and he was looking into mine. I was in a vehicle for a quick getaway if decided he didn't like me there next to him. He was about as big as a mid-size car.

Don

[SpiralHawk]

7. The rhythm sounded by the hooves of the Buffalo Nation, is a subtle but...

important Wave Form. The Buffalo Nation rhythm is an essential thread in the matrix of Wave Forms that keep Yellowstone -- and other vast tracks -- stable and healthy.



Bearing in mind that Yellowstone is a Super Volcano that happens to be in an EXTREMELY TOUCHY condition just now, the Keepers of Sacred Federal Lands might want to enter the wilderness naked and to fast for 4 days and 4 nights to ruminate on reality, and to contemplate the Next Seven Generations of our children who will in time come to live on this land. In this manner, the Keepers might make a wise decision in relation to our American relatives, the Buffalo Nation.

Yellowstone's Super Volcano - The Discovery Channel
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/supervolcano/under/under.html

[blindpig]

9. The parks are too small, in fact they are misconceived.

The idea that we can lock up nature on this or that parcel of land is insupportable. Large animals generally need large ranges, the number of individuals needed maintain a viable population can run into the hundreds, at least. We are seeing the result of this in some of the western parks where predator species like lynx and wolverine are disappearing from places where they are not persecuted, there is simply not enough space. In the discipline of island biogeography this is known as "relaxing to equilibrium". The land will remain, perhaps altered by the new mix of species, but species diversity will be diminished, and so shall we.

Something entirely new is needed. The problem is that current environmental practice is entirely conditioned by our economic system, capitalism. Private gain is given priority without question. Private gain eschews any diminution of profit, if one wolf kills a cow then all of the wolves need be killed.

Instead of consigning nature to pinch penny packets while we use and abuse the rest of the land what's needed is a new(really old) concept of living with nature. Some practices may need restraining, like open range cattle, some stopped, like suburban sprawl. Not advocating pumas running around NYC but some balance might be achieved, we're pretty smart monkeys, if the ultimate goal of profits is replaced with the goal of sustainable survival, something impossible under capitalism.

[Touchdown]

17. Yellowstone is twice the size of Conn.

...and it's right next to Grand Teton Nat. Pk., about the size of Manhattan Is. How big do you think those parks should be? The bison roam freely between both parks, and all about around there. I went there a couple of years ago, and they're overpopulated now. The rangers all told me so, and they are not bloodthirsty hunters. They just care about the ecosystem.

[blindpig]

19. still

They should be big enough that a self sustaining population of Grizzly bear or bison might be expected to survive for say, 100 years.

Or better, we develop new concepts of land usage. The sacred preeminance of private property is what's ailing those bison.

[knitter4democracy]

11. The cattlemen should switch to bison anyway.

It's a far superior meat, and they're better for the West than cattle are. That way, they'd be in peace with their wild bison cousins and also be selling a better product. The bison undercoat makes a lovely yarn (I enjoy spinning it, and I have a source for gently harvested fiber, the stuff that falls out and gets caught on wires and such, not dead wool), the meat's better, the hides are better, and they're an amazing graze animal that can live where cattle can't. What's not to love?

[donsu]

12. it's superior exactly because the cattle barons don't have their hands on it

the cattle barons would bunch them up, fill them full of big pharma, feed them toxic food and sell it for organic.

[knitter4democracy]

20. You're right. They'd ruin it somehow.

I think I'll stick to my small ranches. :)

[KamaAina]

14. The Church Universal and Triumphant needs to change its name

to the Church Universal, Loving and Triumphant (CULT).

http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/faq/whatiscut.html

The Royal Teton Ranch, owned by a religious cult the Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT), is located within North America's largest wildlife migration corridor directly adjacent to Yellowstone's northern boundary.

In 1998 U.S. taxpayers spent $13 million on conservation easements to allow wildlife, including wild bison, to access these lands. The government never finalized the deal.

"Hundreds of bison are being captured and slaughtered at Yellowstone's northern boundary exclusively because of the CUT's refusal to honor the intention of the land exchange to provide needed winter range habitat for migrating bison," stated BFC's Josh Osher.

The bison that inhabit the Yellowstone region are the last wild, genetically pure, unfenced bison left in the country. They are the only bison to have continuously occupied their native range and they are the last bison to follow their natural instinct to migrate. Like other wild ungulates, bison move to lower elevations outside the park in response to the region's harsh winters. Yet, unlike other wild ungulates, wild bison are not allowed to leave Yellowstone National Park and are subject to harassment, capture, slaughter and quarantine when they do. Bison are North America's largest land mammal.

[SpiralHawk]

16. 9 out of 10 Ascended Masters say...

...get a clue, you prophetic acolytes you.

It ain't about Triumphing over nature, that's for sure. The Old Timers have always said it's about find a way to live with your relatives in respect in the Sacred Hoop.

White Buffalo Calf Woman is calling you...yes, you.

[uppityperson]

15. Teddy Roosevelt Ntl Park (ND) still has a herd. 125,000 bison in NAm?

http://www.nps.gov/thro/naturescience/bison-buffalo.htm
(clip)

For centuries, both bison and human coexisted on the Great Plains. The bison was the mainstay of Plains Indian life, providing food, clothing and shelter; little of the animal was wasted. Along with the Indian, natural predators--the wolf, mountain lion and grizzly bear--stalked the bison herds. Disease, accidental drowning and prairie fire took their toll. But these pressures had the positive effect of thinning the great herds, keeping them healthy and strong. It remained for the arrival of European settlers and their guns to seriously threaten the bison's existence.

The start of the westward expansion movement in the 1830s marked the beginning of the end for the great bison herds. Between 1830 and 1880, large-scale bison hunts were organized and hundreds of thousands of bison were killed for their hides. Thousands were killed just for their tongues, which were considered a delicacy. As many as 250 bison were shot in one day by one hunter, and a good skinner could remove the hide in five minutes. The years between 1870 and 1880 saw the height of the bison trade when as many as 250,000 hides were auctioned off in one or two days. By the turn of the twentieth century, less than 300 wild bison remained.

If it were not for the foresight of a few individuals such as Theodore Roosevelt, the mighty bison could easily have become extinct. Warnings and attempts to protect the bison came as early as 1776, but it wasn't until 1894 that the first federal legislation protecting this animal was enacted. Killing of bison was now punishable by a $1000.00 fine or imprisonment, and the law was strictly enforced. Prior to this legislation, a small herd did exist in Yellowstone National Park, but was not protected against poachers. There were also several small herds owned by private individuals. With the passing of the bison protection law, game preserves were established that have ensured the survival of the bison. Today, more than 125,000 bison roam the North American continent.

In 1956, 29 bison were obtained from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska and released in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Here they roamed freely on 46,000 acres of park land. By 1962, the herd had increased to 145 individuals. Twenty of these animals (10 bulls and 10 cows) were shipped to the smaller 24,000-acre North Unit.

Though both units of the park can easily carry larger numbers of bison, park managers have currently set herd size at approximately 200 - 400 animals for the South Unit and 100 - 300 for the North Unit to maintain the range in a healthy condition.