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Come Defend Baby Buffalo!
Call to Action-Almost 1,000 Buffalo Slaughtered This Year
Looking back at my past 3 seasons working for the Buffalo Field Campaign, I realized how much those who advocate for the wild resort to learning the language of the bureaucrats and the economists to save what they love. If the forest is to be left uncut or the river left undammed, the alternative must save money or have some sort of benefit for humans. Then, and only then, do the trees remain standing and the salmon swim upstream to spawn.
Likewise, when people who fight for the buffalos’ inherent right to migrate towards greener grass try to convince politicians and lobby groups, they are forced to communicate with facts and statistics, bar graphs and spreadsheets. They are forced to play the game.
There are many reasons why the buffalo pose an almost non-existent threat to cattle in the areas west of the park border and why they should have access to land that elk and deer graze. They’ve all been brought up before. I’ve seen friends talk until they are blue in the face to those that persecute the buffalo and those who have the power to save them. Maybe they don’t listen, or maybe it’s still more profitable and politically easy to kill buffalo.
So, right now, I will not continue to play their game of numbers.
Right now, I will bare my heart.
The buffalo that wander out of Yellowstone National Park deserve access to whatever lands they choose. Yes, deserve. They are sentient beings, having thoughts and feelings and dreams, having a language and friends and a community. They were born with the same rights to freedom and life that we were.
The buffalo mothers and their new born calves are entitled to rest and love, without being chased by wannabe cowboys trying to protect cattle that aren’t even there.
I don’t care if the Cattlemen’s Association is afraid of brucellosis. Tell them to get rid of elk feedgrounds. But leave the elk alone too, or you might find me out there as well with a video camera.
I don’t care if a rancher has to pay more to transport cattle in and out of the state. He’s probably getting a steal on his public lands grazing allotment because it’s difficult to turn a profit ranching cattle in the West. There’s a clue: cattle don’t belong in the West.
I don’t care if the National Park Service is feeling pressure from the cattle industry to “manage” its wildlife. To NPS: you are in charge of a wonderful and beautiful place. Do what you set out to do when you applied for your job.
And I don’t care if this letter ruffles a few feathers. Good. Time is running out to save those last best and WILD places.
Right now, I will bare my heart, because, right now dozens of buffalo are being hazed from the north shore of the former Madison River by people who should not be in charge of wildlife (if anyone should be.) Dozens of unique manifestations of the Earth are being forced to waste energy just to placate a few humans with their petty worries about numbers and how many they have in a bank account. Dozens of beautiful shaggy animals who have a right to exist beyond any value that humanity can give them are being chased by cowboys who can’t even do their “job” without helicopters, ATVs, snowmobiles and horses. And this is being done to protect some politician’s approval rating in the polls.
So right now I have a favor.
The next time you feel something. Feel it. Don’t apologize. Don’t rationalize. Feel it. And then DO something about it. Talk about it. And if your only reason for wanting more trees or salmon or seals or buffalo than there were last year is because they are beautiful, then say it. If your only reason for wanting less smoke stacks and nuclear power plants and oil spills is because they are wrong, then THAT’S your rationalization. Go with it.
Okay, just one more favor: Come out to West Yellowstone if you are able and care for the buffalo. You will never feel more alive than when you are doing what you know is right. You know that, you’ve felt it before. Think back. It may have been a long time since you’ve said, “no” when they’ve said “yes.” But you’ll remember.
What could 50 committed volunteers do over a weekend? What could 100 do over a week? What if everyone who ever felt that things weren’t going the way they thought they should be came down here and MADE A DIFFERENCE?
So, call, email or write. We’re here and we’re waiting for you. Let’s get organized. Maybe this will be the last year that the cowboys are in control. Maybe this is the year of the buffalo.
buffalo [at] wildrockies.org
406.646.0070
buffalofieldcampaign.org
Likewise, when people who fight for the buffalos’ inherent right to migrate towards greener grass try to convince politicians and lobby groups, they are forced to communicate with facts and statistics, bar graphs and spreadsheets. They are forced to play the game.
There are many reasons why the buffalo pose an almost non-existent threat to cattle in the areas west of the park border and why they should have access to land that elk and deer graze. They’ve all been brought up before. I’ve seen friends talk until they are blue in the face to those that persecute the buffalo and those who have the power to save them. Maybe they don’t listen, or maybe it’s still more profitable and politically easy to kill buffalo.
So, right now, I will not continue to play their game of numbers.
Right now, I will bare my heart.
The buffalo that wander out of Yellowstone National Park deserve access to whatever lands they choose. Yes, deserve. They are sentient beings, having thoughts and feelings and dreams, having a language and friends and a community. They were born with the same rights to freedom and life that we were.
The buffalo mothers and their new born calves are entitled to rest and love, without being chased by wannabe cowboys trying to protect cattle that aren’t even there.
I don’t care if the Cattlemen’s Association is afraid of brucellosis. Tell them to get rid of elk feedgrounds. But leave the elk alone too, or you might find me out there as well with a video camera.
I don’t care if a rancher has to pay more to transport cattle in and out of the state. He’s probably getting a steal on his public lands grazing allotment because it’s difficult to turn a profit ranching cattle in the West. There’s a clue: cattle don’t belong in the West.
I don’t care if the National Park Service is feeling pressure from the cattle industry to “manage” its wildlife. To NPS: you are in charge of a wonderful and beautiful place. Do what you set out to do when you applied for your job.
And I don’t care if this letter ruffles a few feathers. Good. Time is running out to save those last best and WILD places.
Right now, I will bare my heart, because, right now dozens of buffalo are being hazed from the north shore of the former Madison River by people who should not be in charge of wildlife (if anyone should be.) Dozens of unique manifestations of the Earth are being forced to waste energy just to placate a few humans with their petty worries about numbers and how many they have in a bank account. Dozens of beautiful shaggy animals who have a right to exist beyond any value that humanity can give them are being chased by cowboys who can’t even do their “job” without helicopters, ATVs, snowmobiles and horses. And this is being done to protect some politician’s approval rating in the polls.
So right now I have a favor.
The next time you feel something. Feel it. Don’t apologize. Don’t rationalize. Feel it. And then DO something about it. Talk about it. And if your only reason for wanting more trees or salmon or seals or buffalo than there were last year is because they are beautiful, then say it. If your only reason for wanting less smoke stacks and nuclear power plants and oil spills is because they are wrong, then THAT’S your rationalization. Go with it.
Okay, just one more favor: Come out to West Yellowstone if you are able and care for the buffalo. You will never feel more alive than when you are doing what you know is right. You know that, you’ve felt it before. Think back. It may have been a long time since you’ve said, “no” when they’ve said “yes.” But you’ll remember.
What could 50 committed volunteers do over a weekend? What could 100 do over a week? What if everyone who ever felt that things weren’t going the way they thought they should be came down here and MADE A DIFFERENCE?
So, call, email or write. We’re here and we’re waiting for you. Let’s get organized. Maybe this will be the last year that the cowboys are in control. Maybe this is the year of the buffalo.
buffalo [at] wildrockies.org
406.646.0070
buffalofieldcampaign.org
For more information:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
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Comments
(Hide Comments)
If bison (aka buffalo) were restored to their previous numbers, would hunting them be a problem? Would eating bison for nourishment be competition for cattle ranchers? Bison are also more sustainable ungulates (hooved mammals) than cattle, they don't graze in the same location and denude the grass/plant matter thereby causing erosion..
This sounds selfish, if the focus on bison restoration is only for the stomachs of humans. However, we all live on this Earth and need to eat, so why not learn how to live in symbiosis??
Indigenous north americans lived together with the bison for thousands of years. The Lakota is one tribe of the Great Plains that hunted the bison for food, clothing and shelter. Bison were treated with respect, given freedom until their last days, and nothing of the bison was wasted. Of course in pre-Columbus times the bison meat was supplemented with native edible plants and other animals of the Great Plains ecosystem..
Given the grasslands ecosystem and cold winters of the Great Plains, hunting bison makes more sense and is more sustainable than growing monoculture wheat, corn, soy or some other crop as currently done. These monoculture crops are either pestcide/herbicide/fertilizer intesive and/or now use biotech seeds and continue the pesticide treadmill. Especially when most of the corn is fed to cattle confined shoulder to shoulder in feedlots in places like Amarillo, TX..
Though i am not of indigenous bloodline, my heart and spirit tell me that living my lifestyle closest to the indigenous people's ways of Turtle Island is what i need to do. Also i realize that ALL humans have a past similar to the indigenous peoples of Turtle Island, some peoples lost their indigenous lifestyle before others as imperialism and monoculture invaded the more remote regions of the Earth. For that reason and simple ecological sustainability (desire to survive) my energy will go towrads restoration of the ecosystems to pre-Columbus conditions. Call it green anarchy, primitivism, neo-indigenist, wanna-be-native american, whatever term u want, but realize that it is coming from my heart and i am dead serious. My heroes are Tecumseh, Leonard Pelteir, Osceola, and the countless other early European settlers who ran away from colonialist "civilization" and joined up with neighboring indigenous tribes..
So my intention and desire is to eventually replace imported cattle with bison, elk, pronghorn antelope, and other indigenous antelopes. When these herds are restored to their previous size and my body can still walk, then i may make a bow and arrow or spear out of some riparian willow and take up hunting. That is my goal..
wolfman
This sounds selfish, if the focus on bison restoration is only for the stomachs of humans. However, we all live on this Earth and need to eat, so why not learn how to live in symbiosis??
Indigenous north americans lived together with the bison for thousands of years. The Lakota is one tribe of the Great Plains that hunted the bison for food, clothing and shelter. Bison were treated with respect, given freedom until their last days, and nothing of the bison was wasted. Of course in pre-Columbus times the bison meat was supplemented with native edible plants and other animals of the Great Plains ecosystem..
Given the grasslands ecosystem and cold winters of the Great Plains, hunting bison makes more sense and is more sustainable than growing monoculture wheat, corn, soy or some other crop as currently done. These monoculture crops are either pestcide/herbicide/fertilizer intesive and/or now use biotech seeds and continue the pesticide treadmill. Especially when most of the corn is fed to cattle confined shoulder to shoulder in feedlots in places like Amarillo, TX..
Though i am not of indigenous bloodline, my heart and spirit tell me that living my lifestyle closest to the indigenous people's ways of Turtle Island is what i need to do. Also i realize that ALL humans have a past similar to the indigenous peoples of Turtle Island, some peoples lost their indigenous lifestyle before others as imperialism and monoculture invaded the more remote regions of the Earth. For that reason and simple ecological sustainability (desire to survive) my energy will go towrads restoration of the ecosystems to pre-Columbus conditions. Call it green anarchy, primitivism, neo-indigenist, wanna-be-native american, whatever term u want, but realize that it is coming from my heart and i am dead serious. My heroes are Tecumseh, Leonard Pelteir, Osceola, and the countless other early European settlers who ran away from colonialist "civilization" and joined up with neighboring indigenous tribes..
So my intention and desire is to eventually replace imported cattle with bison, elk, pronghorn antelope, and other indigenous antelopes. When these herds are restored to their previous size and my body can still walk, then i may make a bow and arrow or spear out of some riparian willow and take up hunting. That is my goal..
wolfman
The Intertribal Bison Cooperative is attempting to restore bison to their former habitat. They offered to fund and provide their own transport of bison who strayed from Yellowstone into Montana to their reservation lands in the Great Plains. No charge incurred by the US government, Montana ranchers have the imaginary "threat" of migrating bison with brucellosis removed, bison find a new home on the range, everyone happy, yes? The US National Park Service refused this request and continue the cold hearted slaughter of bison. The slaughter of bison correlates with the genocide and forced relocations of indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (North America). This is what the ITBC have to say about their efforts at bison restoration..
"They gathered in the Sacred Black Hills of South Dakota on a cold February day in 1991. With only four days prior notice, nineteen tribes from all four directions braved the harsh Dakota winter to attend. Lakota representatives from most of the reservations in South Dakota were there, as well as the Crow, Shoshone-Bannock, Gros Ventre /Assinoboine and Blackfeet Nations of Montana. Various Pueblo representatives from New Mexico pulled in, and the Winnebago, traditionally called Ho Chunk, from both Nebraska and Wisconsin came. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and some as far west as Round Valley of California arrived. Some of these tribes were historically enemies, but now they unite for a common mission . . .
"to restore bison to Indian Nations in a manner that is compatible
with their spiritual and cultural beliefs and practices".
Our History . . .
The American buffalo, also known as bison, has always held great meaning for American Indian people. To Indian people, buffalo represent their spirit and remind them of how their lives were once lived, free and in harmony with nature. In the 1800's, the white-man recognized the reliance Indian tribes had on the buffalo. Thus began the systematic destruction of the buffalo to try to subjugate the western tribal nations. The slaughter of over 60 million buffalo left only a few hundred buffalo remaining.
Without the buffalo, the independent life of the Indian people could no longer be maintained. The Indian spirit, along with that of the buffalo, suffered an enormous loss. At that time, tribes began to sign treaties with the U.S. Government in an attempt to protect the land and the buffalo for their future generations. The destruction of buffalo herds and the associated devastation to the tribes disrupted the self-sufficient lifestyle of Indian people more than all other federal policies to date.
To reestablish healthy buffalo populations on tribal lands is to reestablish hope for Indian people. Members of the InterTribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC) understand that reintroduction of the buffalo to tribal lands will help heal the spirit of both the Indian people and the buffalo.
Although some tribes and tribal members have been engaged in the production of buffalo for sale and/or for subsistence and cultural use, these activities have been conducted by each individual tribe, with little or no collaboration between tribes.
The InterTribal Bison cooperative was formed in 1990 to coordinate and assist tribes in returning the buffalo to Indian country. In February 1991, a meeting in the Black Hills of South Dakota, was hosted by the Native American Fish and Wild- life Society. It was obvious to everyone that the ITBC organization to assist tribes with their bison programs, was not only desired, but also necessary. With the hard work and dedication of the Society, Congress appropriated funding for tribal bison programs in June of 1991. This acton offered renewed hope that the sacred relationship between Indian people and the Buffalo might not only be saved, but would in time flourish.
The tribes again met in December 1991 to discuss how these appropriations would be spent. At this meeting, each tribe spoke of their plans and desires for buffalo herds and/or to help their existing bison herds expand and develop into successful, self-sufficient programs
In April of 1992 tribal representative gathered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was at that meeting that the InterTribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC) officially became a recognized tribal organization. Officers were elected and the pain staking task of developing their criteria for membership, articles of incorporation, and by-laws continued over the next five months.
In September of 1992, ITBC was incorporated in the state of Colorado and that summer ITBC was headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, once again returning to the Sacred Black Hills -- thus completing a circle.
"We recognize the bison is a symbol of our strength and unity, and that as we bring our herds back to health, we will also bring our people back to health." Fred DuBray, Cheyenne River Sioux
article continues @;
http://www.intertribalbison.org/main.asp?ID=1
So how dangerous is brucellosis to cattle? Almost negligible, even according to US government scientists. Then why all the paranoia and calls for US Park Service to slaughter migratory bison by Montana cattle ranchers?
"Brucellosis is transmitted during reproductive events. Although there is a very small chance that bison bulls could transmit the bacteria to cattle females during mating, the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee stated: "...transmission from bison to cattle is almost certainly confined to contamination by a birth event by adult females." Therefore, non-pregnant females, calves and male bison pose virtually no risk of disease transmission.
<-->
There has never been a verified case of transmission of brucellosis from a free-ranging wildlife population to cattle. Transmission has been demonstrated only under experimental conditions with confined animals.
In 1989, 810 cattle from 18 different herds where Yellowstone bison ranged were tested twice for brucellosis infection. No cattle tested positive for exposure to brucellosis."
article continues @;
http://ncseonline.org/nae/docs/brucellowsis.html
Despite the logic of scientists and data that proves transmission of brucellosis to cattle is non-exsistant, the Montana ranchers continue to demand the slaughter of migratory bison. Thankfully there are enough activists attempting to protect the bison, though even amongst the activists there is restraint in engaging in direct action to save the bison from being shot and killed..
Saving Bison from Slaughter at Yellowstone's imaginary border;
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/
Other groups working on bison restoration..
Great Plains Restoration Council; Buffalo Commons;
http://www.gprc.org/articles/GPRC_intro.htm
"What exactly is the Buffalo Commons? Simply, it is a cultural and social movement to restore ecological, economic, social and, for some, spiritual health to America’s severely damaged heartland. For generations the Great Plains has suffered damage and decay. Vanishing water and animals are signs of a failing Earth. Time is running out to restore our Great Plains’ majesty. Our communities do not take care of the environment like it’s a critical underpinning of our health, even though protecting the environment is a matter of sheer survival. We must act now, and involve our youth in every way.
There is a Third World-like devastation out here on the Great Plains –“flyover country” to the rest of America— that touches every aspect of our ecological and personal landscape. Much of our Great Plains is inside the “extinction spiral,” meaning that the web of prairie life is in shreds and collapsing. For example, the latest census shows that grassland birds have declined by 70%. Aquifers, fresh springs, creeks and streams, so vital to sustaining life, are being drained dry, are dying. At the same time, many of our communities, especially our Prairie/Plains inner city and American Indian youth, face daunting survival challenges that, in a social way, mirror the ecological devastation."
"They gathered in the Sacred Black Hills of South Dakota on a cold February day in 1991. With only four days prior notice, nineteen tribes from all four directions braved the harsh Dakota winter to attend. Lakota representatives from most of the reservations in South Dakota were there, as well as the Crow, Shoshone-Bannock, Gros Ventre /Assinoboine and Blackfeet Nations of Montana. Various Pueblo representatives from New Mexico pulled in, and the Winnebago, traditionally called Ho Chunk, from both Nebraska and Wisconsin came. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and some as far west as Round Valley of California arrived. Some of these tribes were historically enemies, but now they unite for a common mission . . .
"to restore bison to Indian Nations in a manner that is compatible
with their spiritual and cultural beliefs and practices".
Our History . . .
The American buffalo, also known as bison, has always held great meaning for American Indian people. To Indian people, buffalo represent their spirit and remind them of how their lives were once lived, free and in harmony with nature. In the 1800's, the white-man recognized the reliance Indian tribes had on the buffalo. Thus began the systematic destruction of the buffalo to try to subjugate the western tribal nations. The slaughter of over 60 million buffalo left only a few hundred buffalo remaining.
Without the buffalo, the independent life of the Indian people could no longer be maintained. The Indian spirit, along with that of the buffalo, suffered an enormous loss. At that time, tribes began to sign treaties with the U.S. Government in an attempt to protect the land and the buffalo for their future generations. The destruction of buffalo herds and the associated devastation to the tribes disrupted the self-sufficient lifestyle of Indian people more than all other federal policies to date.
To reestablish healthy buffalo populations on tribal lands is to reestablish hope for Indian people. Members of the InterTribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC) understand that reintroduction of the buffalo to tribal lands will help heal the spirit of both the Indian people and the buffalo.
Although some tribes and tribal members have been engaged in the production of buffalo for sale and/or for subsistence and cultural use, these activities have been conducted by each individual tribe, with little or no collaboration between tribes.
The InterTribal Bison cooperative was formed in 1990 to coordinate and assist tribes in returning the buffalo to Indian country. In February 1991, a meeting in the Black Hills of South Dakota, was hosted by the Native American Fish and Wild- life Society. It was obvious to everyone that the ITBC organization to assist tribes with their bison programs, was not only desired, but also necessary. With the hard work and dedication of the Society, Congress appropriated funding for tribal bison programs in June of 1991. This acton offered renewed hope that the sacred relationship between Indian people and the Buffalo might not only be saved, but would in time flourish.
The tribes again met in December 1991 to discuss how these appropriations would be spent. At this meeting, each tribe spoke of their plans and desires for buffalo herds and/or to help their existing bison herds expand and develop into successful, self-sufficient programs
In April of 1992 tribal representative gathered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was at that meeting that the InterTribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC) officially became a recognized tribal organization. Officers were elected and the pain staking task of developing their criteria for membership, articles of incorporation, and by-laws continued over the next five months.
In September of 1992, ITBC was incorporated in the state of Colorado and that summer ITBC was headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, once again returning to the Sacred Black Hills -- thus completing a circle.
"We recognize the bison is a symbol of our strength and unity, and that as we bring our herds back to health, we will also bring our people back to health." Fred DuBray, Cheyenne River Sioux
article continues @;
http://www.intertribalbison.org/main.asp?ID=1
So how dangerous is brucellosis to cattle? Almost negligible, even according to US government scientists. Then why all the paranoia and calls for US Park Service to slaughter migratory bison by Montana cattle ranchers?
"Brucellosis is transmitted during reproductive events. Although there is a very small chance that bison bulls could transmit the bacteria to cattle females during mating, the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee stated: "...transmission from bison to cattle is almost certainly confined to contamination by a birth event by adult females." Therefore, non-pregnant females, calves and male bison pose virtually no risk of disease transmission.
<-->
There has never been a verified case of transmission of brucellosis from a free-ranging wildlife population to cattle. Transmission has been demonstrated only under experimental conditions with confined animals.
In 1989, 810 cattle from 18 different herds where Yellowstone bison ranged were tested twice for brucellosis infection. No cattle tested positive for exposure to brucellosis."
article continues @;
http://ncseonline.org/nae/docs/brucellowsis.html
Despite the logic of scientists and data that proves transmission of brucellosis to cattle is non-exsistant, the Montana ranchers continue to demand the slaughter of migratory bison. Thankfully there are enough activists attempting to protect the bison, though even amongst the activists there is restraint in engaging in direct action to save the bison from being shot and killed..
Saving Bison from Slaughter at Yellowstone's imaginary border;
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/
Other groups working on bison restoration..
Great Plains Restoration Council; Buffalo Commons;
http://www.gprc.org/articles/GPRC_intro.htm
"What exactly is the Buffalo Commons? Simply, it is a cultural and social movement to restore ecological, economic, social and, for some, spiritual health to America’s severely damaged heartland. For generations the Great Plains has suffered damage and decay. Vanishing water and animals are signs of a failing Earth. Time is running out to restore our Great Plains’ majesty. Our communities do not take care of the environment like it’s a critical underpinning of our health, even though protecting the environment is a matter of sheer survival. We must act now, and involve our youth in every way.
There is a Third World-like devastation out here on the Great Plains –“flyover country” to the rest of America— that touches every aspect of our ecological and personal landscape. Much of our Great Plains is inside the “extinction spiral,” meaning that the web of prairie life is in shreds and collapsing. For example, the latest census shows that grassland birds have declined by 70%. Aquifers, fresh springs, creeks and streams, so vital to sustaining life, are being drained dry, are dying. At the same time, many of our communities, especially our Prairie/Plains inner city and American Indian youth, face daunting survival challenges that, in a social way, mirror the ecological devastation."
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