Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

On June 18, four of our buffalo brothers showed themselves near Henry's Lake in Idaho. These buffalo are some of the handful of bison in the past 120 years that have crossed over Targhee Pass. As soon as we were told the buffalo were there, on the side of Hwy 20, we rushed out to be with them.

When approached by Idaho's Department of Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, we were told that "Idaho doesn't have wild bison" and they intended to keep it that way. After speaking with other state officials, we learned that the Department of Agriculture had plans to shoot the buffalo when they found them. The State Veterinarian has the power to say that the four bulls do not pose a risk (of transmitting brucellosis) and allow them to live.

After two dedicated BFC volunteers camped in the woods near the buffalo for the night and tracked them for over five miles into the backcountry with no visual confirmation of the bison position, our hopes and morale were running low. From where we saw the last tracks, however, if they keep going the way they were, there are large tracts of roadless and undeveloped land ahead. Our prayers are with them, as they roam as nature intended.

Our summer outreach programs are going well. We have spoken with many people in Yellowstone National Park. We are still shorthanded though, so if any of you have at least two weeks to spend in YNP or the Grand Tetons this summer for the buffalo, PLEASE CONTACT US. We encourage volunteers for shorter periods too, but to table it takes a good week to read all the background information and get trained in.

When we have enough people here that can dedicate some time, we can begin the Tetons tabling.

Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and prayers.

For the buffalo,
Felixa and Nicholas
~summer campaign coordinators

Buffalo Field Campaign
Post Office Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone: 406-646-0070
buffalo@wildrockies.org

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Congrats to the Shapiros - the winners of the drawing in our recent summer campaign fund drive. We couldn't be in the field 365 days a year without help from all of you! Thank you for your support and your tax deductible donations!

And thanks, Renee for donating the beautiful art as an incentive. It's all about each of us supporting each other as we speak out for the buffalo and their wild habitat.

If anyone else would like to donate a special thank you gift for another supporter gift - please contact Su at BFC's Program Development.

For the Buffalo!
bfc-programs@wildrockies.org