Sorry David, I couldn't help myself!!
Robert
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Buffalo Field Campaign
News From the Field
In This Issue:
* Update From the Field 6/6/02
* Press Release: Two Bull Bison Shot Near West Yellowstone
* to all...
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* Update From the Field 6/6/02
Looking into big bull buffalo eyes you can almost see the future.
They hold stories of freedom and wondering, of never giving up, yet
being so calm and passive that tiny birds can live on their back.
Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers spend weeks on end getting to be
with you, learning of your playfulness and always giving spirit, the
gift you give to all of us.
On June 5, 2002 the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) brought
out their guns to end this season. Two big bull buffalo were the
MDOL's target. One was on public lands on the Gallatin National
forest, the other was on the private ranch of the Munn's family. The
Munn's were the permitees of the grazing allotments on Horse Butte
that were canceled by a fedreal judge in Washington DC, pending an
environmental impact statement to be written by the Forest Service.
The bull already had been captured, tested, shaved, tagged and
released by MDOL after testing negative for the disease. Out of the
202 buffalo killed this season 135 were not been tested for the
disease. This sends a clear message that the MDOL is not worried
about disease, they just want to kill buffalo.
The buffalo that wander into the state of Montana are not Montana's
buffalo. They belong to all Americans. They are our last wild, free
roaming, and genetically pure buffalo in our country. One of the
only truths taught to us in our History books is the slaughter the
millions of buffalo from this continent. Here we are 130 years later
doing the same thing, with only the cattle interests in mind. It is
time to stop. BFC is committed to fight for the rights of the buffalo
until justice prevails. We cannot do this without your support.
Please continue to write letters, make phone calls, spread the word
and donate if you can. Know that together we are making a difference.
With the Buffalo,
Mike Mease
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957 West Yellowstone, Mt. 59758
Phone (406) 646-0070 Fax (406) 646-0071
E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2002
Contact: Mike Mease (406) 646-0070
Two Bull Bison Shot Near West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone, MT: Montana Department of Livestock agents shot and
killed two bull bison in the West Yellowstone area on Wednesday
afternoon. One bull was killed on private land at Horse Butte, the
other on National Forest Land east of Highway 20. These were the
first bison shot in Montana since a bull was killed at Red Canyon
last December.
BFC spokesperson Mike Mease said, " This is just one more example
that this slaughter has nothing to do with brucellosis. Of the 202
buffalo killed this year, 135 were never even tested for the disease."
A recent court ruling has barred cattle grazing at Horse Butte until
Gallatin National Forest completes an Environmental Impact Statement
to reauthorize the grazing allotments there. With no cattle in the
area, it is unnecessary to kill bison that leave Yellowstone National
Park.
BFC volunteer Joe Strusz said, "These agents have no heart, and as
long as they keep killing, I'll be here to try and stop it."
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in the
field, everyday, to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's wild buffalo.
Video and still photos available.
-30-
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to all...
I often ask myself if the planet is just going to boot the humans
out, if the Earth will purge itself of all the degradation. I pray
for a hard rain tonight, a hard cleansing rain after what i've
witnessed today. There is much blood on the soil today. On such a
beautiful summer afternoon in Yellowstone, gunshots rang loud like
thunder in the desert, and the Earth lost two incredible buffalo.
The details you can read in the press release... all I feel and know
is emptyness. Loss. Helplessness. But I know that if myself and
the other volunteers weren't documenting, the world wouldn't even
HEAR about this terrible event, and maybe they wouldn't be out there
shooting bison. I watched the two huge buffalo pass by on the
trailer, exposed on a flat bed to all who wanted to see. One was
starting to bloat, the other had blood dripping from its nostrils and
head. They drug them with a winch into the Duck Creek capture
facility where they butchered them, with no ceremony, no respect, no
gratitude. And hauled it all off in the backs of white men's pick up
trucks. To go where? Who knows? All I know is hours before, these
bison were roaming, their hooves in the earth, their bellies full.
I am pretty numb at this point. These men, those who call themselves
upholders of the law and represent us as government officials, have
tasted and smelled blood after their killing party today. Department
of Livestock. Fish Wildlife Parks. Park Service. Forest Service.
Zero tolerance.
As I close, I hear rain outside. My hope was fulfilled. All the
blood shed today will sink deep into the soil.
Someday, the buffalo will roam free.
XXXXXXXXXXX jayna XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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