Update ... 12/10/01

Protect Yellowstone's Bison from Needless Slaughter

Gallatin National Forest is now seeking public comments on a proposal to continue livestock grazing on the Horse Butte, a peninsula jutting into Montana's Hebgen Lake west of Yellowstone National Park. This tract of land is important winter habitat for Yellowstone's bison herd. Each winter, the animals leave the park's high elevation and deep snow-as well as the safety the park's borders provide-and migrate to Horse Butte to find food. As they make this timeless and natural trek, many of the bison are harassed and eventually killed after crossing over the park's border.

The Forest Service has unnecessarily set up a conflict between livestock and bison by allowing several hundred privately-owned cattle to graze on the peninsula. During the harsh winter of 1996-97, for instance, 310 buffalo were shot along Yellowstone's west boundary as they tried to move onto Horse Butte, and another 48 were sent to slaughter. (A total of 1,083 buffalo were slaughtered that year by the Montana Department of Livestock). The public was told that the slaughter was necessary so that buffalo would not transmit the disease brucellosis to domestic cattle, though there has yet to be a documented case of cattle contracting the disease from wild buffalo. Furthermore, scientific research on the organism that causes the disease clearly shows that there is no practical threat to livestock as long as several months separate their use from the buffalos' use of the Horse Butte area.

Note from USDA Forest Service's Scoping Letter, File Code: 1950/2210: "The purpose of proposing re-issuance of a livestock grazing permit on the Horse Butte allotment is to continue to allow for this economic activity."

(Here are some details about this so-called "economic activity"):

The public pays a high price to allow private cattle to graze on Horse Butte. A new government plan that prevents Yellowstone buffalo from wintering in the area will cost taxpayers over $800,000 annually. Yet, the federal government receives less than $2,000 per year from the livestock operation that leases the Horse Butte grazing allotment.

(The scoping letter doesn't even mention that taxpayers from ALL states are paying for/subsidizing PRIVATE livestock to graze on PUBLIC lands.)

One solution that will help protect Yellowstone's buffalo, while also shielding taxpayers from footing the bill, is to convert the Horse Butte allotment into a safe haven for buffalo and other wildlife. However, the Forest Service will not make this change without your encouragement. The agency is now seeking public involvement as it assesses the environmental consequences of cattle grazing at Horse Butte.

The Hebgen Lake Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest is seeking public comments on a proposal to continue livestock grazing on the Horse Butte allotment through re-issuance of a term grazing permit.

Comments will be used to identify issues that should be addressed in the environmental analysis. The Forest Service will document the potential environmental consequences of the continued livestock grazing on the allotment and advise changes in grazing practices.

Please write to the U.S. Forest Service and help them identify issues that should be addressed during the coming environmental assessment.

Letters/comments can be sent to:

Tris Hoffman
Hebgen Ranger Lake District
Post Office Box 520
West Yellowstone, Montana 59758
406.823.6966
tlhoffman@fs.fed.us

And copied to:

Becki Heath, Forest Supervisor/Gallatin National Forest
Rich Inman, Deputy Forest Supervisor
PO Box 130; 10 East Babcock Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59771
Administrative Office:
Telephone 406-587-6701 (voice)
Telephone 406-587-6801 (TDD)
Fax: 406-587-6758

Stan Benes, District Ranger
Hebgen Lake Ranger District
PO Box 520; Highway 287
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Telephone: 406-823-6961 (voice and TDD)
Fax: 406-823-6990

Sample letter and mail service here:
http://www.npca.org/take_action/action_alerts/ActionAlert.asp?strAction=link&ln

Update ... 12/06/01

Intolerance for Last Wild Buffalo Results in Two More Deaths

The DOL (Montana Department of Livestock) has rounded up 2 more bull buffalo.

Same song different day ... Brucellosis (for full information on this disease click the link) ... a sham of an excuse to kill off buffalo who compete for the same food cattle ranchers covet. Needless to say all of this is occurring on public land paid for by "we the citizens" of the USA.

One of the bulls was Bob familiar to the locals who named him Bobtail because he lost his tail.

When field tested (the field test is not 100 percent accurate) for the disease by the DOL both bulls showed exposure to brucellosis ... that condemns them to the slaughterhouse.

Bulls are killed even though the disease is normally spread through exposure to infected birthing materials. However the DOL maintains that bulls could theoretically spread the disease by having sex with a beef cow ... only hitch with this theory is there are not any cattle within 20 miles of West Yellowstone nor will there be until June.

Why is all of this going on in Montana?
Could it be that the government pumps a handsome amount of money (over 1 million dollars a year) into Montana to maintain the slaughter facility necessitating the DOL?

I think we all know the answer to that now don't we?

Info regarding the buffalo and how you can help at:
http://www.wildrockies.org/Buffalo

Send an email showing your concern for the buffalo to public officials at:
http://www.wildrockies.org/Buffalo/politico00/sendmail.html

"Stop-the-slaughter" buffalo updates are mailed about 3-4 times/month. If this is forwarded to you and you would like to receive it regularly - go to:
http://www.wildrockies.org/Buffalo/politk99/stssign.html

Contributions to BFC are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and support their aggressive, front line volunteer campaign. They put the wild buffalo first! BFC is the only group working 365 days a year in Yellowstone with the buffalo.

Update ... 11/28/2001

from Mike Mease and Meghan Gill

Yesterday (11/28/01) - a strong old lead bull gave his life so the world could hear of the travesty of this policy. He was shot by the United States Park Service and Montana Department of Livestock on a part of our national forest land which never has cows grazing anywhere nearby. The total operation consisted of 2 Montana Highway patrol, 2 Gallatin County Sheriffs, 2 Montana Fish and Game wardens, several Park Rangers and at least 7 MDOL (Montana Department of Livestock). We were kept at a distance of two miles away from the shooting and it was done with silencer devices so our only way of knowing it happened was when we saw the buffalo's body being transported away.

Now a bull buffalo has no way of transmitting the disease (brucellosis), even if cows were in the area, but here in Montana it's the cattle way or the death way.

These buffalo belong to all Americans. They are the last wild ones we have left (down from over 60 million). When I look into these men's eyes I can't feel hatred, just sorrow that they will never understand.

I ask myself why their way of life supersedes all other life and why the US taxpayers must subsidize it. There are ways to have both and until justice is served to the buffalo, we will stand beside them everyday.

Today marks the earliest, in our 4 year history, that they have killed a buffalo, so we have a long winter ahead. We are all members of the buffalo family and it is our job to make it end. As I watch yet another one of my family die, I will not give up. I will stand on top of the highest mountain and yell until it stops.

What can you do?

Use your voice ... make your opinions know to those who serve the public.

If you have any concerns about why Yellowstone National Park (YNP) Rangers are in Montana assisting with the slaughter of America's last wild buffalo - you should call Cheryl (your public servant paid by your tax dollars) and chat with her about it. (Please note YNP has a new Park Supervisor this year). Speak from your heart and with compassion.

She's at:
Cheryl Matthews
307-344-2010
Public Information Officer
Yellowstone National Park
cheryl_matthews@nps.gov

her assistance is
Marsha Karle
307-344-2015
marsha_karle@nps.gov

In memory of the 3 bull buffalo captured on 3/22/01 and slaughtered.

And:

In Memory of the 2 free roaming buffalo bulls needlessly slaughtered by the State of Montana and the Federal Forest Service on 3/15/01.

and in support of the nine that have been captured and traumatized and released.

and with concern for the hundreds of Buffalo pregnant moms and babies who have been hazed by helicopters and noisy machiunes up to 12 days in a row!! What a welcome to this world!