6/30
Federal brucellosis policy is unrealistic
Casper Star Tribune
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/06/30/editorial/editorial/fb559b10989ed5628725747700210022.txt

Outbreak renews brucellosis debate
KPAX-TV, Missoula
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8579758&nav=menu227_2

Boy injured by Yellowstone bison
Star Valley Independent (WY)
http://www.starvalleyindependent.com/2008/06/boy-injured-by-yellowstone-bison/

6/29
Letter: Policy degrades healthy gene pool (Robert Hoskins!)
Casper Star Tribune
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/06/29/editorial/letters/239051d4f776e75d872574770001865f.txt

Letter: Hunters, trappers drive agenda (Kathleen Stachowski!)
Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/29/letters/letters70.txt

Boy injured by bison in Yellowstone
Murcury News (San Jose, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_9736143?nclick_check=1

6/28
Boy, 12, injured by Yellowstone bison
Jackson Hole News and Guide
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=3246

6/27
Bison injures boy posing for photos at Yellowstone
Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jVqWhba8VGnYN98J5uOIJQnDyBpwD91INVF02

Hoping for best for Bison Range
Daily InterLake
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2008/06/27/opinion/opinion01.txt

6/25
Brucellosis prompts meeting of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
Seattle Post Intelligencer
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6600ap_wst_brucellosis_meeting.html

6/24
Wyoming may lose brucellosis free status
The Lingle Guide (WY)
http://www.lingleguide.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=398&page=72

Cattle group calls for elk, bison reductions in Yellowstone
KXMC, Minot, ND
http://www.kxmc.com/News/250663.asp

Cattle group’s brucellosis proposal draws fire
Billings Gazette (Brown, AP)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/24/news/wyoming/22-brucellosis.txt

Yellowstone bison, elk reduction urged
Desert News (Utah)
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700237375,00.html

6/23
USCA calls for long-term brucellosis eradication within Greater
Yellowstone Area
Cattle Network
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=231380

Cattle group calls for ekl, bison reductions in Yellowstone
KPAX-TV, Missoula
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8543181&nav=menu227_7

Cattlemen want to reduce YNP’s bison, elk numbers (with video)
KPAX-TV, Missoula
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8543755&nav=menu227_6

6/22
Solving the brucellosis problem
Great Falls Tribune
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080622/BUSINESS/806220320

Perspective: Solutions to feedground problems aren’t easy
Casper Star Tribune
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/06/22/editorial/forum/14294451fc2f70838725746f00210b9d.txt

6/20
Aborted elk calf found outside park tests positive for brucellosis
The Prairie Star
http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2008/06/21/ag_news/local_and_regional_news/local12.txt

Montana Stockgrowers disagree that split-state would have worked
The Prairie Star
http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2008/06/21/ag_news/opinion/let%2012.txt

National Bison Range: CSKT, FWS sign pact
Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/20/news/local/news04.txt

This shows the true colors of the livestock industry and how they want to control how our wildlife is managed for their benefit. Buffalo in the Yellowstone are among the few genetically pure buffalo left in North America and they are the only buffalo which have a continuos connection to the land that they inhabit.

This plan has been tried in the past and it was an utter failure. This continuous genetic bottleneck will result in a decline of genetic diversity and will negatively effect the health the heard thus putting them at risk of extinction.

Brucellosis is endemic in many species of wildlife and is exacerbated by the elk feedgrounds in Wyoming.

Ralph Maughan has posted his feelings about this plan here:
http://wolves.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/state-vets-plan-to-elminate-brucellosis-in-yellowstone-bison/

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

* Update from the Field
* COMMENT: Montana Buffalo Hunt Planned for 2008-2009
* “Buffalo News” ~ Collaborative Newsletter for the Buffalo Available
* “Let Buffalo Roam” License Plates for Every State!
* Photo of the Week
* Last Words
* Kill Tally

——————————
* Update from the Field

Dear Buffalo Friends,

Summer is here and our field volunteers are now inside the boundaries of Yellowstone with the surviving mighty bison, educating national park visitors. BFC tables inside Yellowstone every summer in an effort to let park visitors know what happens to the buffalo they are there to admire. Our shaggy friends gain a lot of support from people visiting Yellowstone from across the nation and around the globe. If you are planning to visit Yellowstone this summer, look for us in the Park. And, if you have an interest in helping BFC tell the buffalo’s story in Yellowstone this summer, please contact Iwi at summer@buffalofieldcampaign.org.

Meanwhile, Montana’s loss of it’s coveted brucellosis-free status is barely making news headlines. One would think that if this was the huge economic disaster they have always claimed, it would make the front page every day. But, the media has been relatively quiet. And to date, the cattle industry has not been able to rule out that the transmission could have come from cattle. Of course, quick to place blame, the cattle industry immediately points the finger at wildlife inhabiting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, calling for “reductions” in elk and bison populations. Killing half the bison population wasn’t enough to please them, apparently, even though wild bison have never transmitted the cattle disease to cattle. Perhaps it’s time for a reduction in the cattle populations that encroach on this majestic wilderness region, because it’s clearly not working in this landscape. Nor is the industry’s prized practice of “test-and-slaughter” programs aimed at grass-eating wildlife.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the last remaining wild places left in the lower-48, one of the last homes to bison, elk, wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and countless other wild species that cannot tolerate the lethal invasion brought by cattle and the industry’s accompanying politics. Priorities and attitudes must change, and they are changing, in a direction that recognizes the irrational behavior and expectations of the cattle industry and the strong economic, cultural, spiritual, biological, and ecological benefit of wild bison all over this land!

Roam Free!
~Stephany

——————————
* COMMENT: Montana Buffalo Hunt Planned for 2008-2009

Given the slaughter of this past season we are shocked to report that Montana intends to carry on with a buffalo hunt this coming season. Apparently, half the last wild population dead just isn’t enough for Montana, the “big skull state.” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has decided to go ahead with the exact same bison hunt as last season. Only this time, hunters don’t have to attend an education course. The state has still not provided any year-round habitat for wild bison in Montana, and they are still aggressively and lethally “managed” by the Montana Department of Livestock, the agency that is also authorizing the hunt. Wild bison aren’t even considered a wildlife species in Montana. The only time they are allowed to step foot in the state is from November 15 to February 15, during the hunt, so they can be shot. The buffalo are a national treasure, and now, due to Montana cattle politics, fewer than 2,100 wild American bison currently exist and they will be under the gun again this winter.

TAKE ACTION FOR THE BUFFALO! Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting public comments through July 18, and they need to hear from you! Please visit the link below to submit your comments today and please spread the word to save the herds!!!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2qclNo_2bC_2fpYkxAlq6kIeLA_3d_3d

——————————
* “Buffalo News” ~ Collaborative Newsletter for the Buffalo Available

BUFFALO NEWS, is a new collaborative newsletter jointly published by a diverse group of wild bison allies: Buffalo Field Campaign, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Horse Butte Neighbors of Buffalo, Natural Resources Defense Council, the InterTribal Bison Cooperative and Tataka Oyate: 7th Generation Fund. Working collectively, all these groups have put together an update of what has occurred with this year’s slaughter, ideas on how to counter the IBMP agencies, and a stellar center-fold map of potential and available bison habitat in SW Montana.

These are perfect outreach tools for you to use in your communities to help educate and inspire bison advocates from wherever you may roam. Copies of the newsletter are now available for distribution. Contact BFC Office Coordinator, barb abramo via email at buffalo@wildrockies.org or via snail mail at PO Box 957, West Yellowstone MT 59758-0957. Contributions for the cost of postage are greatly appreciated.

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* “Let Buffalo Roam” License Plates for Every State

American bison once spanned the continent, 50 million strong, making their home in nearly all 50 states. One way people across the land of the wild buffalo can show support for their return is to make a statement with Montana’s new ‘Let Buffalo Roam’ license plates.

In Montana, official plates are available right now! If you don’t live in MOntana, you can still get a plate! Throughout the country, anyone can acquire a sample plate to let everyone know you think Montana should let the buffalo roam! Check out Photo of the Week below to see a perfect example of an out of state sample plate. Purchase of plates goes directly towards BFC’s front lines work.

Learn how to get yours at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org.

——————————
* Photo of the Week

Patagonia’s Ron Hunter, Nevada resident, uses his sample license plate to say: Montana MUST Let Buffalo Roam! Learn how to get your “Let Buffalo Roam” plate at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org.

If you have trouble viewing this photo please visit http://gallery.buffalofieldcampaign.org/v/photo_of_the_week/Photo+of+the+Week+6-26-08.jpg.html

——————————
* Last Words

“Our approach to Nature is to beat it into submission. We would stand a better chance of survival if we accommodated ourselves into this planet and viewed it appreciatively, instead of skeptically and dictatorially.”

~ E.B. White

——————————
* Kill Tally

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

——————————
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 population in the U.S.

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

* View BFC Video Footage:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

* NEW VIDEO! To Protect the Wild Bison
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/aboutus/documentaries.html

* Why are they killing the last wild buffalo?
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/issueinbrief.html

* NEW! Buffalo Field Campaign Blog
http://www.blog.buffalofieldcampaign.org

* Protect Horse Butte for Wild Buffalo!
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/legal/horsebutte.html

* 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

Rather than facing the real issue with brucellosis, namely the elk feed grounds in Wyoming where artificially high concentrations increase the prevalence of brucellosis, the California-based U.S. Cattlemen’s’ Association wants you, the public, to accept more killing of Yellowstone wildlife for industry.

These cattle appear to be from the same herd that tested positive for brucellosis last week.

Ralph Maughan has posted about the previous cases.
Brucellosis now confirmed in cows near Sublette County, WY elk feedlot

State takes action on brucellosis testing after positive cow found in Montana
Farm & Ranch Guide
http://www.farmandranchguide.com/articles/2008/06/19/ag_news/livestock_news/lives10.txt

Breaking News: FWS, Tribes ink Bison Range management pact
The Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/19/news/top/news01a.txt

Op-Ed: Myths add to brucellosis blame game (Nadia White, UM professor of journalism)
The Missoulian
http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/19/opinion/guest/guest77.txt

Tribes, gov’t will share management of Bison Range
San Diego Union-Tribune
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20080619-1301-wst-bisonrangemanagement.html

TenderBison joins the Winn Meat company roster of fine proteins (Yellowstone, conservation mention)
The Earth Times
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/tenderbisontm-joins-the-winn-meat-company-roster-of-fine-proteins,440702.shtml

6/18
Mexico not behind Montana’s brucellosis outbreak (BFC mention)
Billings Gazette (AP)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/18/news/state/14-mexico.txt

Officials begin digging into brucellosis case
Billings Gazette (AP)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/19/news/wyoming/24-brucellosis.txt

Nebraska Dept. of Ag issues import order for Montana cattle and bison
CattleNetwork.com
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=230244

Blackfeet tribe begins a buffalo project for economic development
Glacier Reporter
http://www.goldentrianglenews.com/articles/2008/06/18/glacier_reporter/news/news2.txt

6/14
A letter from the Governor
West Yellowstone News
http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/articles/2008/06/13/news/news5.txt

Montana loses its brucellosis-free status
Brownfield ~ Ag News for America
http://www.brownfieldnetwork.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=74342C2D-E2F2-1431-3CA538980FDBCC39

How bad is it?
News Talk KBLG 910AM, Billings
http://www.kblg.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8282

6/13
Buffalo Allies calls upon Governor to withdraw from IBMP
West Yellowstone News
http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/articles/2008/06/13/news/news3.txt

More restrictions ordered for cattle
Great Falls Tribune, Across the Big Sky
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS01/806130321/1002

6/12
Debunking brucellosis myths
New West (Bill Schneider)
http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/debunking_brucellosis_myths/C41/%20L41/

Montana bison hunt quotas likely staying the same (video footage)
Montana’s News Station
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8485180&nav=menu227_3

Wyoming may have new brucellosis case
Casper Star Tribune
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/06/12/news/breaking/doc485194ae85e7c146998238.txt

Ochenski: Udder failure: The politics behind Montana’s brucellosis discovery
Missoula Independent
http://www.missoulanews.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=7958B09B-14D1-13A2-9F378912943DCE73

Commissioners back proposed bison hunt
KXMC - Minot, ND
http://www.kxmc.com/News/247542.asp

Buffalo Allies of Bozeman call on Schweitzer to withdraw from IBMP
New West Unfiltered
http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/buffalo_allies_of_bozeman_calls_upon_schweitzer_to_withdraw_from_interagenc/C37/L37/

6/11
Second brucellosis case will cost cattle industry millions (BFC quoted)
Casper Star Tribune (McKee)
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/06/12/news/wyoming/df5c7993e0aa83c88725746500003a1c.txt

Cattle industry losses could reach millions
Billings Gazette (Tom Lutey)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/OPINION01/806110309

To late - this time - for split-state brucellosis status
Great Falls Tribune
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/OPINION01/806110309

Brucellosis free status
ABC Montana ~ Missoula
http://www.abcmontana.com/news/state/19695294.html

Giant buffalo sculpture cast in Billings
Billings Gazette
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/11/news/local/24-giantbison.txt

Rancher of infected cow considers slaughtering herd (BFC quoted)
Billings Gazette (McKee)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/11/news/state/18-rancher.txt

Ranchers and conservationists at odds as bison herd numbers plunge
Flathead Beacon
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/ranchers_and_conservationists_at_odds_as_bison_herd_numbers_plunge/3825/

‘Black cloud’ for Montana
Casper Star Tribune (McKee)
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/06/11/news/wyoming/df5c7993e0aa83c88725746500003a1c.txt

Can valley elk live without winter feed?
Jackson Hole News & Guide (Hatch)
http://www.kulr8.com/news/state/19695694.html

6/10
State loses brucellosis-free status
Belgrade News
http://www.belgrade-news.com/view.php?article=9257

Montana finds brucellosis case
Feedstuffs ~ The Weekly Newspaper for Agribusiness
http://www.feedstuffs.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=F4D1A9DFCD974EAD8CD5205E15C1CB42&nm=Breaking+News&type=news&mod=News&mid=A3D60400B4204079A76C4B1B129CB433&tier=3&nid=521C75F736F24B8894A364C87AE16E7A

6/9
Montana to lose brucellosis free status
KULR8, Billings MT
http://www.kulr8.com/news/state/19695694.html

Sick cow costs Montana its brucellosis-free status
New West
http://www.newwest.net/city/article/sick_cow_costs_montana_its_brucellosis_free_status/C396/L396/

Montana to lose its status as brucellosis-free
Billings Gazette
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/09/news/state/21-bruce.txt
- appeared on
* San Diego Union-Tribune http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20080609-1804-wst-montana-brucellosis.html

Montana cow tests positive for brucellosis
Associated Press (Brown)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hE4vV5dGdP6fxdT07LBD6fwuHkSAD916RNSGB

6/8
Letter: DOL bison policy ignores disease facts (Karrie Taggart!)
Billings Gazette
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/08/opinion/letters/22-bison.txt

6/6
Letter: Bison should not be managed as livestock
West Yellowstone News
http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/articles/2008/06/06/opinions/letter2.txt

How not to save the bison
Plenty Magazine
http://www.plentymag.com/blogs/political/2008/06/how_not_to_save_the_bison.php

6/5
Letter: Federal agencies should revamp bison protections
Howard County Times (Maryland)
http://www.explorehoward.com/opinion/9160/letter-federal-agencies-should-revamp-bison-protections/

Ted Turner
Big Sky Weekly
http://www.thebigskyweekly.com/article.php?id=368

6/4
Suit opposes elk feeding in Wyoming
New York Times (Robbins)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/us/04refuge.html?_r=1&ref=environment&oref=slogin

Groups seek to restore health of elk refuge herds
The Earth Times
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/groups-seek-to-restore-health-of-elk-refuge-herds,418997.shtml

Greens sue to close Elk Refuge
Wyoming Business Report
http://www.wyomingbusinessreport.com/article.asp?id=94160

Group wants to halt elk feeding program
United Press International
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/04/Group_wants_halt_to_elk_feeding_program/UPI-40991212587838/

Refuge feeding fought in suit
Jackson Hole News & Guide (Hatch)
http://www.jhguide.com/article.php?art_id=3155

Suit seeks to stop elk feeding on Wyoming refuge
Associated Press (Brown)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hcGafVBAJEY67cZSFvXTOg7SnlXgD9135K2O0

Conservation groups protest against elk feeding
ENews
http://www.enews20.com/news_Conservation_Groups_Protest_Against_Elk_Feeding_08439.html

5/30
In Montana, bison plan paused (BFC quoted)
Christian Science Monitor (T.Wilkinson)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/06/03/in-montana-bison-plan-paused/

Crews haze bison back into park
Casper Star Tribune
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/05/30/news/wyoming/b1ba0a1a5817da148725745800838662.txt

5/29
Bison hazed off private property, back into Yellowstone
Montana’s News Station
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8398355&nav=menu227_7

MDOL takes bison home
DOL press release
* TEXT pasted below

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK TAKES BISON HOME
Thursday, May 29, 2008/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Merritt
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Livestock
406/444-9431

MDOL Takes Bison Home

Acting under directives from the Montana Board of Livestock, and with the cooperation of Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) partners, the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) today conducted a bison hazing operation on Horse Butte peninsula west of Yellowstone National Park.

The operation was approved last week by the Board at its regular bimonthly meeting, which was attended by members of the public and livestock industry representatives.

Board of Livestock executive director Christian Mackay called the operation a success.

“It was a clean sweep, and all of the bison that were on Horse Butte are now back in the park where they belong,” Mackay said. “Enough snow had melted to be able to conduct the operation safely, and green-up was sufficient to offer adequate feed for the bison to hold.”

MDOL moved approximately 110 bison off of the Horse Butte property formerly owned by the Munns brothers, and an additional 40 bison off of the north side of the butte back into the park.

Although state statute (MCA 81-2-120) gives MDOL authority to conduct bison operations on private property, the use of a helicopter to haze the bison precluded the need to exercise that authority.

Despite a melt-off and green up that was much later than normal, state veterinarian Marty Zaluski said hazing operations on the west side of the park this operational season were successful.

“With the completion of today’s operation, the risk management goals of the IBMP to maintain spatial and temporal separation between bison and cattle has been maintained,” Zaluski said.

The state legislature has identified bison - which carry a zoonotic disease known as brucellosis - as a species in need of special management, and has given MDOL broad authorities to manage wild bison.

This is the eighth winter the IBMP has been used to guide bison and brucellosis risk management actions. Under the IBMP, MDOL works with other agencies to protect and maintain Montana’s brucellosis-free status while cooperating to conserve a viable, wild bison population. Management actions are necessitated, in part, by a population estimate which was at a near-record high of 4,700 bison within Yellowstone National Park at the beginning of this year.

Could the Park Service have killed far more than they had planned by not taking winter kill into account? Might there be fewer than the 2100 threshold in the IBMP?

PARKWIDE DISTRIBUTION:
*The information in the following paragraph is not intended as a population estimate. This information provides an approximate number of bison in certain geographic areas that have been surveyed in the past month. In no way is this information complete and accurate enough for a population estimate.

Approximately 200 bison are still utilizing the Blacktail Deer Plateau area. Nearly all of the other bison on the northern range are east of Tower Junction. In the central portion of the park, there are a few dozen bison in Pelican Valley (primarily adult males) and about 150 bison in Hayden Valley. The bulk of the central breeding group is still located in the Firehole Geyser basin and the Madison River Valley (approximately 200 west of Madison Junction).

Download the report here: YNP report_6_15_08.doc

The newsletter is a joint project of the Buffalo Field Campaign, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Horse Butte Neighbors of Buffalo, Natural Resources Defense Council, InterTribal Bison Cooperative and Tatanka Oyate of the Seventh Generation Fund.

You can download it here: Buffalo News

NOTE: Because of the size of this newsletter it is more for informational purposes rather than for printing and distributing yourself.