The Montana Department of Livestock intends to haze buffalo from private property tomorrow (May 29, 2008).

Bison to be hazed into Yellowstone as ranchers go to court. San Diego Union Tribune (AP)

Another story this morning:
Ranchers go to court over bison
Spokesman Review, Spokane WA (AP)

The significance of these stories is that the planned hazing violates the wishes and the private property rights of the landowners.

Buffalo Field Campaign
Yellowstone Bison
Update from the Field
May 22, 2008

KEEP BFC ON THE FRONTLINES WITH A TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TODAY
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=1807

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In this issue:
* Kill Tally
* Nine Bulls Sent to Slaughter
* Update from the Field
* “Let Buffalo Roam” License Plates Available for Out-of-Staters!
* Buffalo in the News
* Buffalo Field Campaign Needs Summer Volunteers
* Photo of the Week
* Last Words

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AMERICAN BISON ELIMINATED from the last wild population in the U.S.
2007-2008 Total: 1,613
2007-2008 Slaughter: 1,447
2007-2008 Hunt: 166
2007-2008 Quarantine: 112
Total Since 2000: 3,678*
*includes lethal government action, quarantine, hunts
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* Nine Bulls Sent to Slaughter

Yesterday we sent out a special alert to inform you that the Montana Department of Livestock had captured nine bull bison at the Duck Creek trap. Thank you all for making the calls to help these bulls. Unfortunately, the livestock interests got their way in spite of our efforts: in the early morning hours, the nine wild bulls confined to the Duck Creek trap were loaded onto two livestock trailers and shipped to slaughter by the Montana Department of Livestock.

In the face of over 1,600 killed by government management actions alone, the lives of nine bulls may not seem like much, but it is a lot. Every single buffalo life is significant; each carries the future of the next generation; each holds within itself the evolutionary potential of this magnificent prehistoric natural wonder.

From our observations, we can tell you with confidence that the buffalo population is below the conservation threshold of 2,100 established in the Interagency Bison (mis)Management Plan. The agencies can confirm this if they want to do another aerial survey. As it is written in the Plan, when the population falls below 2,100, the agencies “will” take action to prevent more slaughter of the buffalo by taking more non-lethal management actions. It just so happened that the late winter count on April 11 observed 1,970 buffalo, but the agencies stuck that number into their population matrix and out popped 2,145 buffalo. That same report estimated 400 to 700 winter kill.

It’s a fact of life that politicians lie; they’ll say anything to get elected or maintain popularity. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer made a statement in mid-April that no more wild buffalo would be slaughtered. Just days later, the Montana Department of Livestock captured and sent three bull buffalo to slaughter. This week, another nine were trapped and killed. People who are calling the Governor’s office to express their concern and outrage are being immediately transferred to the Department of Livestock; the Governor is trying to hide from his responsibility in the bloodshed of thousands of wild American buffalo. Toss up your hands and pass the buck, that’s the name of the game. When Schweitzer ran for the governor’s office, he campaigned on the promise of “more tolerance” for wild buffalo in Montana. The results of his words have been more wild buffalo killed under the four years of his watch than in the eleven years preceding his election. It appears that Schweitzer does not have control of the Department of Livestock and its livestock inspectors. Either he doesn’t care or he doesn’t mind Montana’s state vet calling the shots.

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The 9 bulls being held at the Duck Creek Capture facility were sent to slaughter this morning.

* Marty Zaluski, Montana State Vet #406-444-0782
* Hal Harper, Governor Schweitzer’s Chief Policy Advisor #406-444-5546
* Mike Volesky, Governor Schweitzer’s Policy Advisor for Natural Resources #406-444-7857
* Governor Brian Schweitzer #406-444-3111

Dear Buffalo Friends,

Nine bull bison are currently in the Duck Creek bison trap, located just outside of Yellowstone’s western boundary. The Department of Livestock says they intend to send these bulls to slaughter.

According to an email received from Yellowstone National Park today, “The park’s current best estimate for the bison population remains between 2300 and 2100, with the lower end of that estimate probably being the most realistic.”

This drastic blow to the bison is a result of a combination of intense slaughter, hunting, quarantine, winter kill and highway mortalities, and the population cannot sustain any more slaughter.

URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED if we are to save the lives of these bulls. Please contact the following Montana decision-makers and urge them to let the bulls go!

* Marty Zaluski, Montana State Vet #406-444-0782
* Hal Harper, Governor Schweitzer’s Chief Policy Advisor #406-444-5546
* Mike Volesky, Governor Schweitzer’s Policy Advisor for Natural Resources #406-444-7857

In mid-April, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer announced in a press conference that NO MORE buffalo would be sent to slaughter this season. A few days later, the DOL sent three bull bison to their deaths. Due to the winter’s severe slaughter and the uncertainty of winter kill bison, the population may well be below 2,100. Under the Interagency Bison Management Plan, the agencies are supposed to use non-lethal methods when the population is at or below 2,100 animals.

We must INSIST THAT THEY DO NOT SLAUGHTER THESE BULLS!

Please spread the word to save the herds! Contact the decision-makers above, and please send this email to all your friends, family, colleagues and co-workers. We stopped the slaughter of 300 bison last year, and we can save the lives of these nine bulls if we keep the pressure on.

Roam Free!
Buffalo Field Campaign

BISON ADVOCATES HOLD RALLY ON THE CAPITOL LAWN
Gathering in Helena to Hold Schweitzer Accountable for Largest Slaughter Since 1800s

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 13, 2008
Press Contacts: Mike Bowersox, BFC, (5/13) 406-646-0070 (5/14 rally site) 416-622-2461
Stephany Seay, BFC, 406-646-0070

(HELENA, MT) - Wild bison advocates will gather in Helena, Montana, Wednesday, May 14th, on the lawn of the State Capitol, 1301 East Sixth Avenue, to draw attention to Governor Brian Schweitzer’s role in the largest wild bison slaughter since the 1800s and to ask him to leave bison alone on the Horse Butte Peninsula, an area where cattle never graze. The gathering will take place from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. There will be speakers, street theatre and food provided by Seeds of Peace. The rally is open to everyone.

More than 1,600 wild American bison (buffalo) have been killed under state and federal management decisions this winter, resulting in the elimination of more than two-thirds of the last wild bison population left in the United States. There are fewer than 2,100 wild bison remaining, and winterkill is still underway. Yellowstone National Park is holding over 330 bison at the Stephens Creek bison trap awaiting spring green up. Seventy-seven wild bison calves have been born in the trap. 112 buffalo calves have been separated from their mothers and family groups and sent to quarantine pens near Corwin Springs, Montana.

“At the rally Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis will be presented with the Buffalo Bill Award for killing the most wild bison since the late 19th century,” said BFC spokeswoman Stephany Seay. “They will be remembered for this shameful act that has devastated our national heritage, the American bison.”

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Dear Friend of the Buffalo,

A diverse coalition of tribal, conservation, hunting, animal welfare and wildlife groups, an outfitting business, and concerned citizens have filed an emergency rule making petition with the U.S. Department of the Interior seeking to stop the National Park Service from slaughtering wild bison inhabiting Yellowstone National Park and adjoining lands on the Gallatin National Forest in Montana.

This winter, Yellowstone National Park and the State of Montana have engaged in an unprecedented slaughter or removal of more than 1,700 bison that have migrated to their winter range near and beyond park borders.

Continue Reading »

Media stories in the last couple of days.
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* NEWS RELEASE *

“HISTORIC” DEAL WITH CHURCH BAD FOR WILD BISON
Millions Spent But Slaughter Will Continue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 17, 2008
Press Contacts:
Mike Mease, Buffalo Field Campaign, 406-531-9284, mease@wildrockies.org
Stephany Seay, Buffalo Field Campaign, 406-646-0070, bfc-media@wildrockies.org

(GARDINER, MT) - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis are expected to make an “historic announcement” today regarding the Interagency Bison Management Plan, which this year alone has been responsible for the deaths of over 1,600 wild American bison, the last continuously wild population in the United States.

“The only historic announcement that Schweitzer and Lewis could possibly make is that they’ve killed more wild American buffalo than anyone since the 1800s,” said Buffalo Field Campaign co-founder Mike Mease.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, April 17, 2008

CONTACTS: Sarah Elliott 406-444-9725

Governor, Park Superintendent, Church President Announce RTR Agreement

(HELENA) - Governor Brian Schweitzer, Church Universal and Triumphant and Royal Teton Ranch (RTR) President Kate Gordon, Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis, and several non-government groups today announced completion of a long awaited agreement that moves the Yellowstone-area Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) through a critical step for protection of both Montana’s cattle industry and the Park bison herd.

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Buffalo Field Campaign
Yellowstone Bison
Update from the Field
April 17, 2008
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View BFC Video Footage:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

* NEW VIDEO! To Protect the Wild Bison
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/aboutus/documentaries.html
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Make a Secure Online Donation to BFC:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=1807
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Why are they killing the last wild buffalo?
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/issueinbrief.html
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* NEW! Buffalo Field Campaign Blog
http://blog.buffalofieldcampaign.org
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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.
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AMERICAN BISON ELIMINATED from the last wild population in the U.S.
2007-2008 Total: 1,601
2007-2008 Slaughter: 1,435
2007-2008 Hunt: 166
2007-2008 Quarantine: 112

Total Since 2000: 3,666*
*includes lethal government action, quarantine, hunts
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In this issue:
* Update from the Field
* Buffalo Spirits Released ~ A Sacred Gathering
* CUT Deal Goes Down; Bad Deal for Wild Bison
* Sign on to Emergency Rule Making Petition to Stop the Slaughter Now!
* Mother’s Day Hand Crafted Cards for the Buffalo’s Cause ~ Deadline April 25
* Lesson’s Learned from Wild Bison: Missoula, MT, Saturday, May 3, 2008
* Photo of the Week
* Last Words

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