Buffalo Field Campaign
PO Box 957 West Yellowstone, MT 59758
(406) 646-0070 phone
(406) 646-0071 fax
buffalo@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 4, 2008

Contact:
Timothy Preso, Earthjustice, (406) 586-9699
Michael Mease, Buffalo Field Campaign, (406) 646-0070
Bison Advocates And Landowners Call For Changed Management

Buffalo Field Campaign and Horse Butte landowners seek increased tolerance for bison in cattle-free zone outside western boundary of Yellowstone National Park

West Yellowstone, Montana - A coalition of bison advocates and local landowners today called on federal and state officials to stop capturing and slaughtering Yellowstone bison in a cattle-free zone outside the western park boundary pending a review of options to give bison more room to roam in the Horse Butte area.

“The government has been killing our nation’s last remaining wild bison, claiming it is necessary to prevent the spread of brucellosis to cattle on the Horse Butte Peninsula,” said Michael Mease, campaign coordinator for the Buffalo Field Campaign. “There are no more cattle on Horse Butte, so that excuse rings hollow. It’s about time the people in charge get behind the locals who support wild bison being on Horse Butte without harassment by the government.”

Horse Butte is a peninsula consisting of federal and private land that extends westward from the west boundary of Yellowstone National Park into Hebgen Lake. The peninsula is surrounded on its north, west, and south sides by the lake. Yellowstone bison typically migrate to the area in late winter and spring seeking forage that they need to survive the harsh winter conditions of the Yellowstone plateau. However, the bison are met by state and federal officials operating a bison trap that has already been used this winter to ship 30 wild bison to slaughter.

Continue Reading »

BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN (BFC)
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, Montana 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

* PRESS RELEASE*

BISON ADVOCATE FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM PROTEST PLATFORM
Yellowstone and Department of Livestock Continue to Capture and Slaughter Wild Bison

For Immediate Release, February 27, 2008
Contact: Buffalo Field Campaign, Nathan Drake or Stephany Seay 406-646-0070

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA - The man who perched upon a platform suspended from the top of a pair of poles on public land inside the Horse Butte bison trap in protest of bison slaughter, Nathan Drake, 26, was forcibly removed and arrested Monday night by state and federal agents. He was charged with three misdemeanors: obstruction, trespassing, and resisting arrest. He was released on $5,000 bail, reportedly the highest yet for bison-related direct action protest.

Montana Department of Livestock agents, Gallatin National Forest law enforcement and a Gallatin County sheriff were present and participated in the removal of the citizen.

“The agents who made their way up to my perch with an eighty foot cherry picker were unconcerned with my safety,” said Nathan. “They cut my sleeping bag that was my protection from the Montana winter, took off my boots and threw them to the ground, attempting to freeze me out of my lock box. The sheriff and Forest Service agent cut my safety line, attached me to the cherry-picker bucket and threw me in it.”

Continue Reading »

Buffalo Field Campaign
Yellowstone Bison
Update from the Field
February 28, 2008
——————————
View BFC Video Footage:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

* NEW VIDEO! To Protect the Wild Bison
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/aboutus/documentaries.html
——————————
Make a Secure Online Donation to BFC:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=1807
——————————
Why are they killing the last wild buffalo?
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/issueinbrief.html
——————————
Receive BFC’s updates or press releases.
Send your email address to bfc-media@wildrockies.org with “sub updates” or “sub press release” in the subject line.
——————————
AMERICAN BISON ELIMINATED from the last wild population in the U.S.
2007-2008 Hunt: 135
2007-2008 Slaughter: 505
Total Since 2000: 3,194
*includes lethal government action, quarantine, state and treaty hunts
——————————
——————————
In this issue:
* Citizen Blockade Closes Horse Butte Trap for 15 Hours!
* Update from the Field
* BFC’s Responds to Lousy “Deal” Proposed for Bison on CUT Land
* Thank You Idaho State University!
* Photo of the Week
* Last Words

Continue Reading »

CITIZEN TAKES ACTION TO SHUT DOWN BISON TRAP
“I called, I wrote, and no response…This is my response.”

For Immediate Release, February 25, 2008
Contact: Buffalo Field Campaign, Stephany Seay or Mike Mease 406-646-0070

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA - An unidentified man has made it impossible for Montana Department of Livestock agents to capture bison in the recently erected Horse Butte bison trap. The man is perched upon a platform suspended from the top of a pair of poles that are standing on end and anchored to the walls of the trap. A large banner hanging from the platform reads, “I called, I wrote, and no response…This is my response.” Photos of the blockade are available here:
http://gallery.buffalofieldcampaign.org/v/da/My_Response_HB_2-08.jpg.html

Continue Reading »

Buffalo Field Campaign
Yellowstone Bison
Update from the Field
February 21, 2008
——————————
View BFC Video Footage:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

* NEW VIDEO! To Protect the Wild Bison
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/aboutus/documentaries.html
——————————
Make a Secure Online Donation to BFC:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=1807
——————————
Why are they killing the last wild buffalo?
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/issueinbrief.html
——————————
Receive BFC’s updates or press releases.
Send your email address to bfc-media@wildrockies.org with “sub
updates” or “sub press release” in the subject line.
——————————
AMERICAN BISON ELIMINATED from the last wild population in the U.S.
2007-2008 Hunt: 132
2007-2008 Slaughter: 290
Total Since 2000: 2,336
*includes lethal government action, quarantine, state and treaty hunts
——————————
——————————
In this issue:
* Update from the Field
* Week of Action Wrap-Up
* BFC Needs Cameras & Walkies for the Field!
* Message from Rosalie Little Thunder
* Contact Major News Outlets
* Photo of the Week
* Last Words

——————————

Continue Reading »

Thursday, February 21, 2008
NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY to Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
* 406-444-3111

Dear Buffalo Friends,

Yellowstone National Park sent 55 more wild American buffalo to slaughter this morning and captured another 15. Since February 8, bowing to pressure from Montana’s livestock industry, the Park Service has captured 290 wild American buffalo and sent 230 to slaughter so far.

Thanks for all of your calls to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. Too bad his office - like all the other agencies - tried to avoid us and pass the buck. It’s up to us to keep the pressure on and hold them accountable for their actions.

Today is our fifth and final day of National Call-ins for the Week of Action. Thursday’s target is Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. When he campaigned for governor, he promised “more tolerance” for wild buffalo, yet so far his version of “tolerance” has included a so-called hunt and continued hazing, capture, slaughter, and quarantine.

Continue Reading »

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne
Kempthorne’s Office: 202-208-7351
Communication’s Office: 202-208-6416

Dear Buffalo Friends,

Yellowstone National Park sent 31 more wild American buffalo to slaughter this morning, bringing the total capture since February 8 to 275. All will be killed and 175 have all ready been sent to slaughter.

Thanks for all of your calls to Montana State Vet Marty Zaluski on Tuesday. How convenient he is on vacation this week. He will hear from us all again, rest assured. Seems all the decision-makers we have called so far have been trying to avoid their role in the slaughter of the buffalo. It’s outrageous how they’ve made themselves unavailable to the public they serve and are funded by. They can’t run from the truth, and together we will keep the pressure on.

Today is our fourth day of National Call-ins for the Week of Action. Wednesday’s target is Secretary of Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. The National Park Service and Yellowstone National Park are agencies within the Department of Interior. Ironically, the National Park Service and the Department of Interior use a buffalo on their symbol. Perhaps they should change it to a domestic cow, since that seems to be all they care about.

Continue Reading »

Hebgen Lake Ranger District
News Release
Highway 191, PO Box
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin

For Immediate Release Contact: Bill Queen, (406) 823-6961
Date: February 19, 2008 Susan Lamont, (406) 823-6961

Forest Service Seeks Input on Wapiti Grazing Proposal

The Forest Service is seeking public comment on a proposal to revise the Wapiti Allotment Management Plan. The allotment, located in the Taylor Fork drainage on the Hebgen Lake Ranger District, consists of approximately 7,690 acres. The Forest Service is proposing to revise the allotment management plan to better meet desired rangeland and riparian conditions while continuing to provide grazing opportunities to the livestock operator.

“The purpose of this proposal is to improve rangeland and riparian conditions over the long-term, while providing domestic livestock grazing on the National Forest as directed by the Gallatin Forest Plan,” said Bill Queen, Hebgen Lake District Ranger. “No decision has been made at this point. We are just beginning the “scoping” phase of the project, in which we ask the public to identify potential concerns and issues. After the environmental analysis is completed, the public will have at least one more opportunity to comment on the proposal, alternatives, and the analysis done to date.”

The Wapiti Allotment Management Plan Scoping Document is now available for public review and comment. The scoping period will begin on February 15 and will end on March 14, 2008. The scoping document is available on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin, or by contacting the Hebgen Lake Ranger District at (406) 823-6961, P.O. Box 520, West Yellowstone, MT 59758. Written comments can be sent to Susan Lamont, Hebgen Ranger District, Wapiti Grazing Allotment, P.O. Box 520, West Yellowstone, MT 59758. Electronic comments can be sent to:
hebgen_lake@fs.fed.us

- FS -

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY to Montana State Vet, Marty Zaluski
* 406-444-0782

Dear Buffalo Friends,

More than 100 wild buffalo were captured Monday by Yellowstone officials, who continue to spill the blood of America’s last wild buffalo. This brings the total capture to 269, and all will be shipped to slaughter. On Friday Yellowstone sent another 17 buffalo to slaughter.

Continue Reading »

Friday, February 15, 2008
NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY to NPS Director Mary Bomar 202-208-4621!

Dear Buffalo Friends,

Yellowstone officials continue to spill the blood of America’s last wild buffalo, our national heritage. 44 more wild buffalo were sent to slaughter Thursday morning - Valentine’s Day - from Yellowstone National Park.

Thank you for all the action you have been taking. You have made Suzanne Lewis’ phone ring off the hook! Good work!

Today, on our second day of the Week of Action, we target our national call-in day to Suzanne’s boss, the Director of the National Park Service, Mary Bomar. 202-208-4621. Talking points are provided below.

We must STOP THE SLAUGHTER NOW! Please pick up your phone right now and tell the National Park Service they should pull Yellowstone National Park out of the Interagency Bison misManagement Plan and protect the bison they are mandated to protect, instead of catering to Montana’s cattle interests. The buffalo death toll is very likely to increase significantly.

169 wild buffalo have already been captured inside Yellowstone National Park’s Stephens Creek bison trap. All are being sent to slaughter. None but calves have been tested for exposure to brucellosis, the supposed reason for the kill. All the calves have been sent to slaughter, regardless of the fact that 17 tested negative for exposure to brucellosis. Further, brucellosis is a disease of the reproductive system, and neither bulls nor any buffalo under breeding age can transmit it. No wild buffalo has ever transmitted brucellosis back to the cattle they got it from. This issue is not about brucellosis, but about the grass and who gets to eat it. Our native wild buffalo should live wild and free on their historic range, not be held prisoner to the interests of Montana cattle producers.

Director of the National Park Service, Mary Bomar 202-208-4621
The goal is to make the phones ring off the hook, but for those out of the country, you can send an email to mary_bomar@nps.gov

TALKING POINTS FOR CALLING NPS DIRECTOR MARY BOMAR
1. Stop the Slaughter NOW!
2. The last wild bison in the U.S., a national treasure, are in your care. You are responsible for protecting America’s national heritage, not defending the economic interests of Montana’s cattle industry
3. Stop killing/harassing/quarantining America’s last wild buffalo.
4. Pull Yellowstone National Park out of the Interagency Bison Management Plan now - take proactive steps to secure funding for bison habitat such as winter range and calving grounds on Gallatin National Forest.
4. Make Yellowstone release all buffalo currently being held in the Stephen’s Creek trap and dismantle the trap now!

THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION FOR THE BUFFALO!
For more information about the Week of Action, including the schedule for national call-in days and information about writing letters to the editor of your local, regional and national media, please visit http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/weekofaction08.html

–
Media & Outreach
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

BFC is the only group working in the field every day
in defense of the last wild buffalo in the U.S.

Stay informed! Get our weekly email Updates from the Field:
Send your email address to bfc-media@wildrockies.org

BOYCOTT BEEF! It’s what’s killing wild buffalo
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/boycott.html

Speak Out! Contact politicians and involved agencies today:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/politicians.html

Write a Letter to the Editor of key newspapers:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/lte.html

Help the buffalo by recycling your used cell phones & printer cartridges:
It’s free and easy. http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/support/recycleprint.html.