The slaughter of Yellowstone bison

 
My trips to Yellowstone have been magical.

In 2005 we did our honeymoon there, an incredible back-country trip along the Yellowstone River. That trip, and every other trip we have made, we have always seen bison. No matter how many times I have seen bison, it still always takes my breath away.

Even though I live in Los Angeles now, I try to stay abreast of things that were important to me while living in Colorado, and the work that the Buffalo Field Campaign does in Wyoming and Montana is one of those things.

Please read this press release, from this week. As I write of often in my blog, we have the power to make change when we use our power. In this case, it is speaking out for these majestic creatures who have no voice. It can be a simple email or phone call or even just letting people know about what is happening.

To take action click here.

Thanks for reading. And here is the press release:

YELLOWSTONE BEGINS BISON CAPTURE
After Hundreds Killed in Boundary Hunt, Park Service Captures 150 Wild Bison for Slaughter

For Immediate Release:
March 3, 2016

Contacts:
Stephany Seay, Buffalo Field Campaign, 406-646-0071 / bfc-media@wildrockies.org
Mike Mease, Buffalo Field Campaign, 406-646-0071 / mease@wildrockies.org

Yellowstone National Park - Park rangers have begun capturing wild bison in the Stephens Creek trap within Yellowstone National Park. Since February 20, approximately 150 of America’s last wild buffalo have been trapped. According to park officials, all are destined for slaughter. "Yellowstone's slaughter of wild bison is as lacking in scientific reason as it is in public support," said Buffalo Field Campaign's Stephany Seay. 

The Park Service claims that they are reducing the wild bison population due to the threat of brucellosis, a livestock disease originally brought to North America by Eurasian cattle. There has never been a documented case of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to livestock. Elk, who also carry brucellosis and have transmitted the disease to livestock numerous times in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, are free to migrate from Yellowstone and are managed by hunting based on sustainable populations in available habitat in Montana.

BFC habitat coordinator Darrell Geist says the state of Montana and Yellowstone National Park refuse to manage wild buffalo like wild elk, an alternative that would put the government out of the buffalo capture for slaughter business. "Montana is blessed with an abundance of public lands but cursed by a statute that stands in the way of managing migratory buffalo as a wildlife species," said Geist. “Few people know that MCA 81-2-120 is almost entirely funded by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to back Department of Livestock management of wild buffalo. Without American taxpayer funding, Montana and Yellowstone National Park would have to changes their ways."

Yellowstone and the other Interagency Bison Management Plan partners have stated that they want up to 900 wild bison killed this year. Over four-hundred have already been killed by hunters. The agencies aim to kill hundreds of wild bison every year until they drive the population — now estimated at 4,400 — down to just 3,000 animals. This population target is a result of livestock industry pressure to address unfounded brucellosis fears, and Yellowstone’s false premise that there are “surplus” wild bison. 

BFC executive director Dan Brister questions the faulty science that Yellowstone and IBMP partners are operating under. "There is no such thing as 'surplus' wild bison," said BFC executive director Dan Brister, "Yellowstone's target population cap of 3,000 animals is nothing more than a politically derived number that has nothing to do with carrying capacity." 

Yellowstone's capture for slaughter operations adversely impact the wild population’s natural immunity to introduced diseases, including brucellosis, and increases the risk of more virulent and persistent strains arising in the wild population. Cumulative impacts of management actions pose a significant threat to the viability of wild buffalo remaining in Yellowstone.

Under the voluntarily agreed to Interagency Bison Management Plan, Yellowstone National Park and the other IBMP agencies continue to operate under faulty assumptions and outdated information, in contravention of the agency’s mandate to use the best available science to inform decision makers and the public.

Amazing app - Animal Help Now

I have meant to write about this app for over a year now, and finally, after once again using it to try to help an injured bird, it is time to promote an app that will change your life.

Get this app. Download it now.

Animal Help Now. 

Created several years ago by some incredible people in Colorado, this app is now pretty much nationwide. We just used it in southern California.

It's simple. You download the app, put in your location, and all of a sudden you have access to folks who help injured wildlife.

We've used it three times: two birds and a baby squirrel. All three ended up with wildlife folks within an hour of two of finding them.

This is an app that will change the life of any animal you might find that needs help. We love Animal Help Now. It's simple to use, even for an old guy like me.

Here is their website, and of course their app is in the app store: Animal Help Now

You won't regret having this app. And those who run and maintain the app could use a donation if you're in the position to do so! Their work is definitely worth your financial support. We are proud to be financial supporters of theirs.

Thanks for reading!

UPDATE: Surviving Castle Rock prairie dogs safe!

What a whirlwind.

About 100 prairie dogs who survived the mass positioning that killed over 1500 prairie dogs were placed at a local activist's home while awaiting relocation. Yesterday Colorado Parks and Wildlife seized them and it looked like the prairie dogs didn't have much of a chance.

A couple of weeks ago, to make space for a new mall, the town council of Castle Rock approved the slaughter of 1500+ prairie dogs.

A few days later local activists were allowed to trap the survivors for relocation. I had heard they would be relocated to somewhere in New Mexico.

That never happened.

Then yesterday I read about the Colorado Parks and Wildlife getting involved and taking the prairie dogs.

I just learned from Denver's CBS 4 that a land owner in Sedalia agreed to have the surviving prairie dogs relocated to his property! In fact, the prairie dogs are already there!

I am ecstatic. I don't know who was involved in this life-saving action, but I thank all of them.

I also have to thank the Denver Post and Denver CBS 4 for covering this story.

News from the prairie dog slaughter in Castle Rock, CO

I just read this and wanted to share with you. I copied this from Save the Castle Rock Mall Prairie Dogs Facebook page.

More than 1,500 prairie dogs were poisoned, a death that is ugly, painful and can take up to three days.

Yet those fighting for the voiceless prairie dogs did not give up!

Here is what is happening right now:

A court settlement was reached between Wildlands Defense and Alberta Development that paved the way for the remaining prairie dogs at the site to be safely rescued and relocated. The settlement further dictated that Alberta provide mitigation for the burrowing owl through the creation of 21 artificial burrows to provide nesting habitat that was currently destroyed with the prairie dog homes from the use of fumitoxin and the destruction of current burrows.

The relocation is currently underway and 79 prairie dogs have been rescued as of yesterday. The efforts will continue throughout today at the prospective Promenade site. Tomorrow they will be transported to New Mexico. I will keep you informed as to how many we were able to move in tomorrow's email. Translocations are very stressful for these prairie dogs. They are very scared now and are being taken from their decades long home and traumatized from the interaction with people and the destruction of all they have ever known and loved. This is a very hard time for the survivors, but they will be able to have the opportunity to live, and even though the situation is not ideal, some very precious lives have been saved.

We must not forget that last week thousands of these beautiful animals were murdered in the most destructive way known by administering poison all over the land.

Thanks for reading.