The Montana Board of Livestock voted not to adopt a plan that would free the rest of Montana from being held hostage on brucellosis status because some of the bison and elk in Yellowstone Park are infected with brucellosis.
“Gov. Brian Schweitzer said the decision represented ‘misinformation’ spread by the lobbyist of the Montana Stockgrowers Association”
We all know the controversy has little to do with brucellosis and a lot to do with the Stockgrowers insisting Yellowstone be treated like one big ranch as well as showing they can push local people around and disrespect their property rights.
Panelists nix split zone for cattle. Brucellosis plan opposed by Montana Stockgrowers. By Jennifer McKee. Billings Gazette State Bureau
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
Governor B.S. is the one who is is the bully that is pushing local people around and has disrespected private property rights. I have been to nearly all of the meetings. This is why there has been a large amount of people are against split state status, and wanting YNP to intelligently manage the over population of bison that is occuring to maintain the YNP from being decimated in the future. The Montana Asso. of Counties also passed resolutoins against split state status, buffer zone, and additional wilderness in the state of Mt. only one county out of 7 was against this. This shows a large majority of the public is against this.
Finally the Gov spoke some truth about the situation.
I have studied this issue extensively and from all perspectives for over 1 1/2 years and there is no evidence that bison can transmit the disease to cattle.
I have absolutely no respect for anyone who continues to perpetuate the lies and misinformation about the bison in the yellowstone area and support the useless slaughter of a native species of wildlife that is a symbol of America and is even more important to our First Nations People.
It is shameful and pathetic that in this century in America the practice of slaughtering people and animals continues. It is nothing but selfishness, greed, and wanting to have power and control over something so that a very small group of people can feel important and superior. Maybe part of that is because Montana can’t produce any more than 1 percent of the nations beef so they have to “take it out” on the bison since they got into trouble a few years ago for the torture and inhumane practices at the slaughter houses.
this leaves Schweitzer in a very good position to do something real about this ~ it’s split livestock and illustrating the visceral of the egregious (mis)management thus far.
it’s time for the Gov. to make good on a buyout ~
be — Thank you for the link. It looks as though the gov is finally taking a stand. It would be good to send him e-mails in support of his plan. I hope that everyone realizes it will be win, win solution. I hope this plan could be the first step of many.