Let’s all cheer. USDA has declared U.S. brucellosis free except for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park elk and bison.
“We must now focus our efforts on eradicating brucellosis from the free-ranging elk and bison populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area in order to protect our national cattle herd against future outbreaks of this disease.” These are the words of some Bush USDA undersecretary.
Lies. Lies. The disease is not perpetuated in these national parks.
As we comb Bush’s phony budget, I think we can find some funds to cut here unless they start to focus on real disease threats.
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
I myself doubt that the United States livestock industry is truly brucellosis free, particularly in the southwest where brucellosis is still a problem from Mexican cattle.
This little news release from APHIS instead promises an even greater step-up in pressure of intensive management against the elk and bison of Wyoming and Montana, all in the name of brucellosis control, when we know actually that the purpose of intensive management is elk and bison control–control of wild, free-roaming elk and bison to satisfy the demands of the livestock industry for total control of wildlife and land use agencies and policy.
And of course, the true continuing source of brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone is Wyoming’s elk feedgrounds; however, none of APHIS’ brucellosis control actions are directed toward the State of Wyoming for operating disease hazard–22 of them. Another reason to conclude that the real purpose of brucellosis action is to control elk and bison, not disease.