Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

There is no reason why the State of Montana should be managing the nation's last herd of wild buffalo like domestic cattle. Wildlife biologists should be managing this important wildlife resource. Please take a moment out of your busy day and make a quick phone call or pen a short note to Montana's governor - Judy Martz. If she doesn't know that folks from around the country are concerned - she will just ignore her responsibilities. Contact information...

Governor Judy Martz
State Capitol
Helena, MT 59620
Within Montana: 800-332-2272
Out of state: Phone: 406-444-3111
FAX: 406-444-4151

Talking points - Stand strong and politely insist that your points are valid and should be heard and responded to. These buffalo belong to Americans (& future generations) from all over - they do not belong to the State of Montana.

* Brucellosis is a disease caused by a gram negative bacteria, characterized by an undulating body temperature. It was unknown in this country before the introduction of European cattle. Although debilitating, it is rarely fatal. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not consider it to be a major public health threat, nor requires reporting of it.

* Brucellosis can be transmitted to wildlife and domestic livestock through contact with aborted fetuses and birth materials infected with the organism. Infection may occur during breeding. Only two cases have been reported in Montana in the last ten years, contracted as a result of humans gutting infected elk. There are no documented cases of buffalo transmitting brucellosis to humans or livestock in Montana.

* If bison are going to survive as a genetically intact species, it is imperative that wild, free ranging bison herds are allowed to grow and perpetuate themselves in a natural environment. The unique genetic nature of the Yellowstone herd makes it the most logical candidate for this role.

* Government agencies insist on needless slaughtering of the Yellowstone bison in spite of scientific evidence that they carry a gene called the NRAMP 1 gene (Natural Resistance Associated Macrophage Protein 1), which enables bison to develop immunity to not only brucellosis, but for tuberculosis and salmonellosis as well. This explains why most Yellowstone bison test positive for antibodies (seropositive) to brucellosis but remain culture negative (no organisms present).

If the government continues to cull seropositive buffalo from Yellowstone, they could remove the unique superior genetic quality from this herd which has enabled them to survive a holocaust and come back from the brink of extinction. This is a direct threat to the very survival and fitness of this magnificent herd.

* In a study performed on 144 bison, 117 were seropositive. Of those 117, only 23 were culture positive. The mean age of the bison that were culture positive and seropositive was 2.34 years of age! The level of culture positives drops off sharply by age three. This means that when a buffalo is exposed to brucellosis during their first breeding season, they are developing immunity and clearing that organism from their bodies. Most of the seropositive buffalo have merely developed long term immunity to brucellosis.

What about the Elk?
* It is interesting to note that the same tests also have shown that as many as 50% of the 120,000 elk in the Yellowstone ecosystem are seropositive for brucellosis as well. It has been further noted that there is about a 12% abortion rate among native elk due to brucellosis. Yet, they are allowed to migrate freely and are more likely to co-mingle with cattle than buffalo.

Does Montana plan on targeting Yellowstone's elk next?