Tough Winter for Montana Buffalo
by Mike Mease, Buffalo Field Campaign Organizer
While the state of Montana has faced continued fiscal crises, itsDepartment of Livestock (MDOL) budget to "manage" buffalo last yearwas over 1.3 million dollars.
Dr. Mary Meagher has studied Yellowstone's native bison herd forthirty-five years. At a workshop in April 2002, Dr. Meagher statedthat the current MDOL Buffalo Management Plan proposal to arbitrarilycap the population to 3,000 animals is not based on science. Settingan arbitrary number for wildlife herds can be very dangerous becauseof large natural fluctuations in population.
According to James Derr, of Texas A&M, the Yellowstone herd isgenetically distinct and pure. The application of livestock managementserves only to increase the possibility of these bison losing theirlong term evolutionary potential.
In September, rangers at Yellowstone National Park counted over 4,000wild buffalo. So this winter could be as tough as the winter of1996-97, when 1,084 buffalo were gunned down, causing public outrage.
In early October of this year, MDOL captured and sent three bullbuffalo to slaughter, citing concerns of disease transmission tolivestock. "In the last five years that the Buffalo Field Campaign(BFC) has been here, this is the earliest they have killed buffalo",stated Mike Mease. "These were all bulls and even the Animal Plant andHealth Inspection Service (APHIS) recognizes that they do not pose a threat. The fact that cattle left last week and will not return untilJune next year just goes to show the world this has nothing to do withdisease control."The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in thefield, everyday, to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's wild buffalo.Volunteers defend the buffalo on their traditional winter habitat andadvocate for their protection. Daily patrols stay with the buffalo and document every move made against them.
Contact stop-the-slaughter@wildrockies.org or go to www.wildbison.org for more information, orwww.wildrockies.org/Buffalo/politico00/sendmail.htmlto send a message to the Secretary of Agriculture.
