And now:Buffalo Folks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Comment on the "No action" Alternative of the Horse Butte Buffalo Capture facility EA by Jan. 13th.... http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo/politico/capture _________________________________________________________________ January 12, 1999 Dear Buffalo Supporters, The events of the last few days have saddened us greatly, it has been hard to watch 8 of our buffalo friends captured and trucked to slaughter. Still, though, it has strengthened our resolve to make sure that the killing can go no further. I remember last year when the DOL killed buffalo that I felt an overwhelming sadness, loss, and shock that anyone could kill these animals that felt as close as brothers and sisters, or my own children. But this year something has changed, I see that beyond these feelings of senseless loss that we have done everything in our power to prevent these deaths. Right now we have people camped outside the capture facility to keep vigil and make sure not one more buffalo is caught. Many stay up all night, sleep a few hours, and then go out to the buffalo again. And still there are smiles, laughter, music, and the hugs that keep us all going. I will never forget last Thursday morning, January 7, when we found out that the DOL had hazed buffalo into the facility the night before. One of us on the patrol snuck into the pen with a captive bull and opened the gate. Before the buffalo could escape the outermost pen and we could get the last gate open, a DOL security truck drove up. There was an incredibly long moment when we didn't know whether the buffalo would be caught again. The buffalo looked at the truck, looked at us on the other side of the fence, and then made his choice to jump up and break through the closed gate to freedom. We have watched how the buffalo take care of each other when one of their friends is in trouble. One buffalo whose legs were wounded in the hazing process was limping and struggling to walk. The other buffalo circled around him and nudged him into the willows where the DOL could not find him. That is our work too for our buffalo friends, to keep them away from the capture pen, to find them a path where they are free to walk. In turn they give us the joy of seeing them graze in an open field, of calves who run and jump through the snow with their mothers, or just the quiet moments when we can watch as the wind plays along their thick fur as they sleep. Right now we are seeing the potential for some political headway. The DOL will be meeting in the middle of this month to consider greater leniency towards bison that the federal Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) considers a low risk for brucellosis transmission. APHIS has repeatedly told Montana that the state will not lose its cherished brucellosis-free status if it tolerates the presence of yearling calves and bulls who have a low risk of transmitting brucellosis. The disease can only be transmitted if cattle come in contact with brucellosis contaminated birthing materials. Of the eight buffalo killed so far, seven were bulls, who obviously are not pregnant. The ultimate decision to continue the slaughter rests with Governor Marc Racicot, who oversees the DOL, and it's up to us to let him know that we hold him personally responsible for the needless deaths of wild buffalo. Our moonlit ski down to the capture facility is a well worn path, our skis can almost follow it on their own. It is part of our commitment to be here all winter, the tangible proof that we will continue to speak for the buffalo, to defend the lands that their ancestors travelled each winter in search of the food they needed for survival. If you feel in your heart that you want to take direct action to prevent the deaths of these buffalo come to West Yellowstone and help first hand. We provide food and a space in our warm cabin for all who volunteer. Contact us at (406) 646-0070 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you are unable to come in person you can support our work in other ways. Any donations you make will be put to good use in defending the buffalo from such senseless slaughter. Many of our volunteers have given months or years of their lives to this work. Your financial support allows us to feed, house, and send these dedicated people out on patrol. Help us turn up the heat on the one person who is directly responsible for the current situation. Let Gov. Racicot know that you find the slaughter unacceptable! Call him at 1-800-332-2272 or (406) 444- 3111 or email him at: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] and mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Call the DOL's acting director Marc Bridges from in state at 1-800-523-3162 ext. 3 or (406) 444-2023. Thank you all for your support. Knowing that there are many out there who can not be there but are with us in spirit gives us the strength to keep working. Keep in touch and keep speaking out for the buffalo at this crucial time. Sue Nackoney and all of us here at Buffalo Nations Buffalo Nations PO Box 957 West Yellowstone, MT 59758 406-646-0070 phone 406-646-0071 fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] ******************************************************************** Other helpfull email addresses.... "Agertonson (MT Gov)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Montana State Vet "Bruce Babbitt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Conrad Burns (Sen)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Montana Senator "Daniel Glickman (Ag Secy)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Secretary of Agriculture "Dave Garber (Gallatin Nat'l Forest)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Diana Enright (Forest Service)"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Diana Enright (USDA)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Dr. Craig Reed (USDA)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Dr. Tom Walton (USDA)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Hillary Clinton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Ira Hobbs (USDA)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Kris Lee(NEPA)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Laurie Fenwood (USDA)"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Matthew T. Cohn (MT Tourism)"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Max Baucus (Sen)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Mike Dombeck (Head of Forest Service)"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Mike Finley (NPS)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Montana DOL <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Montana Governor Marc Racicot <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "Mrs. Al Gore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, President Bill Clinton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Thurston Elfstrom (MT Tourism)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Vice President Al Gore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Wardell C. Townsend, Jr. (USDA)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ____________________________________________________________________ Department of Livestock to consider more lenient policy toward bison BOZEMAN (AP) - The Montana Board of Livestock will consider switching to a more lenient federal definition of "low-risk" bison around Yellowstone National Park, a change that could save the lives of many of the animals. When the Department of Livestock traps bison in the West Yellowstone area, it only releases those animals it considers low risk. If the definition of "low risk" were relaxed, fewer bison would be killed. The department's current policy requires brucellosis testing of many bison that leave the park. Only those that test negative for the disease, which can cause animals to abort their fetuses and can cause undulant fever in humans, are considered low-risk. But federal officials define low-risk differently. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service defines low-risk bison as untested bulls, yearlings, calves and cows that have completely passed a placenta. Brucellosis is passed primarily through contact with infected birthing materials or aborted fetuses. State officials killed nearly 1,100 bison during the winter of 1996-97 in order to protect the Montana's brucellosis-free status. "In terms of this situation, bull bison and calves can go in certain areas as long as they are hazed back into the park 30 to 60 days before cattle" return to the area, said Patrick Collins, director of legislative and public affairs for APHIS. In that case, the bison will "pose no threat to Montana cattle." There are no cattle in the area now, and there won't be until June. State Veterinarian Arnold Gertonson said Friday that the APHIS definition of low-risk is still undergoing some fine tuning, but that he'll present the APHIS definition to the Board of Livestock when the group meets Jan. 21 and 22 in Helena. "I can bring it before the board," Gertonson said. "We'd be willing to take a look at it." State livestock officials have maintained in the past that APHIS guidelines may not be sufficient to appease state veterinarians in other states, each of which has the power to impose sanctions on animals imported to their state from Montana. But Collins said his agency has been able to persuade other state vets of the safety of Montana beef. "If they don't have a scientific basis (for threatening sanctions), we've been pretty successful in getting them to back off," Collins said. Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Updated: Sunday, January 10, 1999 Copyright � The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. _______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Our web pages are current and full of great info; please share the URL with friends and others who care.... http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo If this has been passed on to you via a friend or a list, please subscribe to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] to receive the most current news from the field as well as other pertinent Yellowstone buffalo info (2-3 updates per month)! 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