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17th Yellowstone Bison Killed in Montana Hunt
GARDINER, MONTANA. In spite of continuous national public outcry calling for Montana to cancel its controversial bison hunt, the state's zero-tolerance policy against the country's last wild bison continues. On New Years Day it resulted in another bison death in Gardiner, Montana, just outside the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park.
17th Yellowstone Bison Killed in Montana Hunt
For Immediate Release, January 2, 2006
Contact Stephany Seay: (406) 646-0070
GARDINER, MONTANA. In spite of continuous national public outcry calling for Montana to cancel its controversial bison hunt, the state's zero-tolerance policy against the country's last wild bison continues. On New Years Day it resulted in another bison death in Gardiner, Montana, just outside the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park.
In the past ten years Montana and the federal government have killed 2,477 wild Yellowstone bison, more than half of the existing herd. Twenty wild bull bison have been killed in Montana since September; seventeen have been shot by Montana hunters, two by Montana's Department of Livestock (DOL), and another was shot by a Yellowstone National Park ranger inside the Park.
Nearly all of the bison that have been killed in Montana's hunt have been shot less than five miles from the boundary of Yellowstone National Park. Two bison have been shot at the site of the Duck Creek Bison Capture Facility. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks claims bison have access to 460,000 acres of Montana lands during the hunt, yet the terrain is mountainous and rocky and bison naturally require lower-elevation grasslands. Only a tiny fraction of the so-called "tolerance zone," or hunt-area, is being used by bison. Further, immediately after the bison hunt ends on February 15, the 460,000 acres will no longer be available to wild bison.
"Unlike other hunted species in Montana, wild bison are never allowed in the state without being subjected to harassment or death," said Dan Brister of BFC. "As soon as this bison hunt is over, the Department of Livestock will be out in force hazing, capturing and sending to slaughter or quarantine facilities any Yellowstone bison that steps foot in Montana."
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC), a Montana-based wild bison advocacy group, opposes this hunt because wild buffalo have no protected habitat in Montana and are never allowed in the state without being captured, slaughtered, shot, or hazed. Deer, elk, moose and antelope enjoy habitat in Montana as well as a respite from hunting when the season ends. Bison, however, are always targets of persecution at every time of year, whenever they step foot into Montana's borders.
"This hunt is a sham because wild bison aren't even considered a wildlife species in Montana, they are managed by the state's Department of Livestock, and they have no protected habitat in the state," said Stephany Seay of BFC. "Montana's illegitimate bison hunt is a disgrace to Montana and it's hunting heritage. Permanent habitat, wildlife designation, and management by trained wildlife professionals must come before a species can be legitimately hunted."
Seventeen of eighteen non-Indian permits have been filled during the first phase of Montana's bison hunt, which ends January 15, 2006. The Crow Nation has rejected the two permits offered by the state. Other tribes may follow suit.
Montana claims its bison hunt is popular among citizens, yet Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is ignoring the thousands of phone calls and letters he has received urging it's immediate cancellation. Citizens nation-wide have been calling on Montana to end its zero-tolerance policy and afford lasting protection to the country's last wild herd of bison.
The state justifies its lack of bison tolerance on the unfounded fear that bison may transmit brucellosis, a European livestock disease, to cattle. There has never been a documented case of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to livestock. Bulls pose no risk of transmitting the bacteria.
The bison that inhabit the Yellowstone region are the last wild, genetically pure, unfenced bison left in the country. They are the only bison to have continuously occupied their native range and they are the last bison to follow their natural instinct to migrate. Like other wild ungulates, the region's harsh winters forces necessary migration into lower elevation lands where available forage is found. Yet, unlike other wild ungulates, wild bison are not allowed to leave the confines of Yellowstone National Park and face a zero-tolerance policy when they enter Montana and consequently it's killing fields.
Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group working in the field, everyday, to stop the slaughter of the wild Yellowstone buffalo. Volunteers defend the buffalo on their native habitat and advocate for their protection. BFC video footage and photos of Montana's bison hunt are available upon request and may be viewed at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org .
--30--
--
Media & Outreach
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media at wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
For Immediate Release, January 2, 2006
Contact Stephany Seay: (406) 646-0070
GARDINER, MONTANA. In spite of continuous national public outcry calling for Montana to cancel its controversial bison hunt, the state's zero-tolerance policy against the country's last wild bison continues. On New Years Day it resulted in another bison death in Gardiner, Montana, just outside the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park.
In the past ten years Montana and the federal government have killed 2,477 wild Yellowstone bison, more than half of the existing herd. Twenty wild bull bison have been killed in Montana since September; seventeen have been shot by Montana hunters, two by Montana's Department of Livestock (DOL), and another was shot by a Yellowstone National Park ranger inside the Park.
Nearly all of the bison that have been killed in Montana's hunt have been shot less than five miles from the boundary of Yellowstone National Park. Two bison have been shot at the site of the Duck Creek Bison Capture Facility. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks claims bison have access to 460,000 acres of Montana lands during the hunt, yet the terrain is mountainous and rocky and bison naturally require lower-elevation grasslands. Only a tiny fraction of the so-called "tolerance zone," or hunt-area, is being used by bison. Further, immediately after the bison hunt ends on February 15, the 460,000 acres will no longer be available to wild bison.
"Unlike other hunted species in Montana, wild bison are never allowed in the state without being subjected to harassment or death," said Dan Brister of BFC. "As soon as this bison hunt is over, the Department of Livestock will be out in force hazing, capturing and sending to slaughter or quarantine facilities any Yellowstone bison that steps foot in Montana."
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC), a Montana-based wild bison advocacy group, opposes this hunt because wild buffalo have no protected habitat in Montana and are never allowed in the state without being captured, slaughtered, shot, or hazed. Deer, elk, moose and antelope enjoy habitat in Montana as well as a respite from hunting when the season ends. Bison, however, are always targets of persecution at every time of year, whenever they step foot into Montana's borders.
"This hunt is a sham because wild bison aren't even considered a wildlife species in Montana, they are managed by the state's Department of Livestock, and they have no protected habitat in the state," said Stephany Seay of BFC. "Montana's illegitimate bison hunt is a disgrace to Montana and it's hunting heritage. Permanent habitat, wildlife designation, and management by trained wildlife professionals must come before a species can be legitimately hunted."
Seventeen of eighteen non-Indian permits have been filled during the first phase of Montana's bison hunt, which ends January 15, 2006. The Crow Nation has rejected the two permits offered by the state. Other tribes may follow suit.
Montana claims its bison hunt is popular among citizens, yet Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is ignoring the thousands of phone calls and letters he has received urging it's immediate cancellation. Citizens nation-wide have been calling on Montana to end its zero-tolerance policy and afford lasting protection to the country's last wild herd of bison.
The state justifies its lack of bison tolerance on the unfounded fear that bison may transmit brucellosis, a European livestock disease, to cattle. There has never been a documented case of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to livestock. Bulls pose no risk of transmitting the bacteria.
The bison that inhabit the Yellowstone region are the last wild, genetically pure, unfenced bison left in the country. They are the only bison to have continuously occupied their native range and they are the last bison to follow their natural instinct to migrate. Like other wild ungulates, the region's harsh winters forces necessary migration into lower elevation lands where available forage is found. Yet, unlike other wild ungulates, wild bison are not allowed to leave the confines of Yellowstone National Park and face a zero-tolerance policy when they enter Montana and consequently it's killing fields.
Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group working in the field, everyday, to stop the slaughter of the wild Yellowstone buffalo. Volunteers defend the buffalo on their native habitat and advocate for their protection. BFC video footage and photos of Montana's bison hunt are available upon request and may be viewed at http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org .
--30--
--
Media & Outreach
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media at wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
For more information:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
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This artilce illustrates the fundamental dichotomy involved in the bison hunt here in Montana.
The best way to manage the bison is to designate them as wildlife and give them protected habitat.
And, as the article clearly points out, hunting managed wildlife is a legitimate game management technique. Apparently, the BFC wants the hunting stopped until the issues regarding habitat are resolved. It is unlikely that the issue of habitat will be resolved any time in the near future.
While I am opposed to hunting bison, I am even more opposed to the practices of the Montana Department of Livestock in controlling bison who leave Yellowstone National Park and enter Monana, (which costs us Montana residents in the neighborhood of $8 million annually). Focus needs to be put on that, rather than the few bison killed during the hunting season.
When it comes right down to it, the issue of human encroachment on Bison habitat - most notably in Park County, MT - is what needs to be addressed. Stop people from developing the land in Park and Gallatin County that is bison habitat, obtain the grazing rights to the Royal Teton Ranch, designate that area "bison" habitat and the problem will go away. Unfortunately the areas in dispute are among the most desireable areas for development, (mostly by people from out of state, personally, I much prefer Montana west of the continental divide, than in either Gallatin or Park County). Taking land in that part of Montana off the real estate market would be extremely difficult. So, instead the BFC focuses on 18 bison killed in the hunt, while ignoring potentially thousands of bison that are displaced by people moving into the bison's habitat.
The best way to manage the bison is to designate them as wildlife and give them protected habitat.
And, as the article clearly points out, hunting managed wildlife is a legitimate game management technique. Apparently, the BFC wants the hunting stopped until the issues regarding habitat are resolved. It is unlikely that the issue of habitat will be resolved any time in the near future.
While I am opposed to hunting bison, I am even more opposed to the practices of the Montana Department of Livestock in controlling bison who leave Yellowstone National Park and enter Monana, (which costs us Montana residents in the neighborhood of $8 million annually). Focus needs to be put on that, rather than the few bison killed during the hunting season.
When it comes right down to it, the issue of human encroachment on Bison habitat - most notably in Park County, MT - is what needs to be addressed. Stop people from developing the land in Park and Gallatin County that is bison habitat, obtain the grazing rights to the Royal Teton Ranch, designate that area "bison" habitat and the problem will go away. Unfortunately the areas in dispute are among the most desireable areas for development, (mostly by people from out of state, personally, I much prefer Montana west of the continental divide, than in either Gallatin or Park County). Taking land in that part of Montana off the real estate market would be extremely difficult. So, instead the BFC focuses on 18 bison killed in the hunt, while ignoring potentially thousands of bison that are displaced by people moving into the bison's habitat.
This article is curios to me. One of the main complaints of the article - I presume written by the Buffalo Field Campaign (BFG) - is the haizing of Buffalo by State and Federal officials. BFG was founded to haze buffalo back into Yellowstone. There are two undeniable facts associated with buffalo at Yellowstone. Some leave the Park in winter, and when they do they are killed. Why not have them feed families and pay for the science / study needed to establish lands for them outside of the Park? The article seems to be a fund raising tool for BFG. Maybe donors should use their funds to purchase the lands outside the Park instead......
For more information:
http://www.mymontana.com
This article is a propaganda tool for for the bunny/tree/buffalo huggers, and nothing more. They claim, "The state justifies its lack of bison tolerance on the unfounded fear that bison may transmit brucellosis, a European livestock disease, to cattle.There has never been a documented case of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to livestock." For a look at what it takes to document such a thing just look to the problems stockgrowers have documenting livestock kills by wolves. They are not reimbursed for upward of 50% of these kills because they cannot jump through the hoops the government has set up regarding documentation. When Montana stockgrowers are no longer faced with an export ban due to the possibility of bison transmitting brucellosis to livestock the hazing & slaughter will cease. This is the reason the the DOL is in control of the bison hazing/slaughter program. Creating "bison habitat" in Montana is NOT going to happen until the brucellosis issue is cleared up. If something needs to be done, money should be spent eliminating brucellosis from the bison herd. If that happens the zero-tollerance policy will become a moot point, habitat can be identified and bison in Montana can be treated and managed like a game species.
Where do you twits get your facts? Do you make them up and state them as you like? Do you look to find the deep pockets of animal lovers and scam them with half truths? The most recent data released by the Parks Department is that there are 2000 more bison than the park can sustain, yet your opening statement is that more than half of the herd (2400) has been killed in the last 10 years? Bull Crap!!! Where were you phony morons with your video cameras after the fires of 88 when hundreds of bison lay dead from starvation because there was not enough feed to sustain the masses. 18 Bison feeding 18 families doesn't begin to put a dent in the population of the Yellowstone Bison. Your reintroduced Canadian wolf (never native to Montana) will killl that number 10 fold this year. By the way, have you ever seen a wolf kill? They literally eat their prey alive as they try to escape and they will chew on them for up to a mile, tearing pieces of flesh off before they finally are too weak to run anymore, then the wolf will finally make it's kill. Why don't you people go get a real job and quit feeding off the falsely gathered monies that you exploit from honest people
Why didn't you just beg for donations in this article? If 2477 bison (half of the herd?) have been killed in the last 10 years, why does the park service say that there are currently 2000 more bison than the grass range in the park can sustain? What if you get your free range? Let's see, moose,deer and elk jump fences, antelope run under, and bison, well they just tear them down and go through. If you are looking to return bison to their historical range, how about you put a stop to the rich imports buying up and fencing off Montana's wild lands? You raise a stink about the hunting of 18 bison that will provide food for that many families? Wolves and starvation will kill 10 times that many this winter. Cattlemen, Loggers and Miners work hard and earn an honest living, paying taxes and supporting their state, what do you do? feed off out of state interests like some type of parasite.
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