Renewed hazing of bison produces results

There is good news! The public protest got all the way to the Secretary of Interior, and it’s clear the governor’s office got plenty involved too.

Story in the Billings Gazette. Renewed hazing of bison produces results. By Jim Gransbery.

The Buffalo Field Campaign has its news release.

Dear Buffalo Friends,
We have great news to report: YOU STOPPED THE PLANNED SLAUGHTER OF THE BUFFALO!!!!
This afternoon, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone National Park held a joint press conference in Helena, Montana, to announce that they WILL NOT SLAUGHTER any wild buffalo that remain in Montana come Monday! All those buffalo babies, their moms, and their families will live on!

This is a major victory for wild buffalo and their advocates worldwide! THANK YOU!

While the larger issue is far from being resolved, we should all take a deep breath and give thanks for this incredible news that we all helped make happen. The power, prayers, energy, spirit, love, and ACTION of all the people who care about the buffalo made this happen!
Here are the buffalo you helped save: http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/photos/bisonphotos0607maycalves.html

The word from Montana and Yellowstone is this: any wild buffalo found in Montana come Monday would be transported (captured and hauled in trailers) into Yellowstone National Park. They would be taken north, to Stephens Creek, and let go. This transport could be very hard on the buffalo, especially the small calves, so we are hopeful that it will not have to occur at all.
The long-term solution for wild buffalo is year-round HABITAT! Yesterday approximately 200 buffalo were forcefully pushed out of Montana (off of our National Forest lands), back into Yellowstone National Park. The agents used horsemen and a helicopter to conduct this operation. Today, the same thing happened, with about 50 buffalo (moms, babies, families) being pushed off of Horse Butte, deep into Yellowstone. Sadly, the buffalo were pushed extremely hard – especially by the helicopter – and they were shot with orange paint balls by the agents on horseback. It almost looked like a re-enactment from the shameful buffalo hunts of the 1800s. You can see footage from yesterday at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org.

During today’s operation, a baby buffalo collapsed from exhaustion and possible injury. BFC patrols stayed with this little calf and its mom until they were able to be strong enough to resume their trek to catch up with their family members who had been chased out of Montana. They made it!

This great victory is not without its shadow, as wild buffalo should be allowed to roam freely in Montana, especially on our public lands. We will keep fighting for the buffalo until they are wild and free. But we will celebrate that these buffalo will not be sent to slaughter and that is because you made it happen!

Thank you all so much! You flooded them with calls, emails, faxes and IT WORKED! The governor and Yellowstone made the right decision.
ACTION NEEDED: Please take the time to call and say THANK YOU to Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis for choosing to let these buffalo live. Encourage them to work to acquire year-round habitat for wild buffalo in Montana!

* Governor Brian Schweitzer: 406-444-3111

* Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis: 307-344-2002

5 thoughts on “Renewed hazing of bison produces results

  1. The Billings Gazette calls the bison “stubborn.”

    They are were belly deep in grass and the bison cows had just calved. Of course, they wanted to stay put!

  2. GREAT NEWS. now how is the individual that was the subject of aggravated assault by the MSP and will there be charges filed and if not why not?

  3. R.M.: “The Billings Gazette calls the bison “stubborn.” ”

    Yes, and two AP articles called them “renegades.” Schweitzer said they’ve received a “pardon.” Give me a break!

  4. What wonderful news! Everyone who took the time to contact Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis deserves a huge thank you. It is gratifying to see that public pressure can result in needed change. I used this situation last week to teach my high school biology students about the importance of being educated, involved and willing to speak out. I will be very happy to report to them these happy results. It is a great life lesson to learn that each individual’s voice can truly make a difference.

  5. Echoing what Kathie says, and a big thanks to the BFC for making the plea for support. What a great mustering of the good guys, for a change!

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