Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

West Yellowstone, MT - The 5:00 a.m. wake up call comes with crusty eyes. As you put on your 3rd layer of clothes and down a hot cup of tea you are ready to face the 15 below 0 weather outside. We arrive on site an hour before sunrise by skis, snowshoes or auto and position ourselves near the buffalo. Most days are happy ones where we watch and learn from these gifts from the heavens. They teach us about community, surviving as a group and taking care of one another. They teach that we are all in this together and everyone is just as important as the other. When one needs help they are all there, without question.

We all could stand to learn lessons from their ways. We are lucky to share in being a part of their family. Friendships are made between us and the buffalo, spending day after day together in their home. Being a member of this buffalo family is an honor we will all take to the grave.

Unfortunately, all days are not this peaceful. In fact the tension here at times is all too tangible and the fear that comes with being a voice of reason these days is a constant knot in the chest. We face a barrage of slanderous rumors, at times spread directly by the officials involved. Whenever the agents come to town, they bring their law-enforcement powers and liberally enforce broad boundaries around all operations. When we try to assert our first amendment rights to document we are met with complete resistance.

In addition, already this winter, they have asked for ID's, taken multiple pictures and ran license plates. They aggressively searched and questioned a volunteer, claiming he resembled the ID of a homicide suspect. When we investigated further, we found the suspects description to be quite different than our volunteers.

Lastly, the MDOL have been using our names and explaining that they know who we are because they have our pictures on file. Although the agencies, led by the MDOL try desperately to legitimate their policies as humane and wise practices, it only takes a day in the field to see the error in their ways and the disrespect in their eyes. Despite the challenge, it is a good time and place to make a stand for the buffalo and we are doing so in a good way.

On November 28, 2001, a strong old lead bull gave his life so the world could hear of the travesty of this policy. He was shot by the United States Park Service and Montana Department of Livestock on a part of our national forest land which never has cows grazing anywhere nearby. The total operation consisted of 2 Montana Highway patrol, 2 Gallatin County Sheriffs, 2 Montana Fish and Game wardens, several Park Rangers and at least 7 MDOL.

We were kept at a distance of two miles away from the shooting and it was done with silencer devices so our only way of knowing it happened was when we saw the buffalo's body being transported away. Now a bull buffalo has no way of transmitting the disease, even if cows were in the area, but here in Montana it's the cattle way or the death way. These buffalo belong to all Americans. They are the last wild ones we have left (down from over 60 million).

When I look into these men's eyes I can't feel hatred, just sorrow that they will never understand. I ask myself why their way of life supersedes all other life and why the US taxpayers must subsidize it. There are ways to have both and until justice is served to the buffalo, we will stand beside them everyday. Today marks the earliest, in our 4 year history, that they have killed a buffalo, so we have a long winter ahead. We are all members of the buffalo family and it is our job to make it end. As I watch yet another one of my family die, I will not give up. I will stand on top of the highest mountain and yell until it stops.

The following is a quote from the 11/29/01 Bozeman Chronicle article covering the slaughter:

Quote:
"The Montana Department of Livestock and the National Park Service issued a joint press release announcing the shooting Wednesday.

That is the first such joint statement from those two agencies, which have been in lawsuits and court-ordered mediation with each other concerning bison issues for years.

Last December, they issued a joint long-term bison management plan that calls for complicated and expensive management of the shaggy beasts.

Mease, whose group's actions have been pointed mostly at DOL in the past, characterized the joint release as evidence the two agencies "decided to climb in bed together."

Karen Cooper, spokeswoman for DOL, said the explanation is simpler.

"We're both agencies implementing the (bison) plan, so that's something you'll probably see in the future," she said of the joint statement.

Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews said some Park Service workers helped with Wednesday's shooting and with some hazing."
End-Quote

If you have any concerns about why Yellowstone National Park (YNP) Rangers are in Montana assisting with the slaughter of America's last wild buffalo - you should call Cheryl (your public servant paid by your tax dollars) and chat with her about it. (Please note YNP has a new Park Supervisor this year). Speak from your heart and with compassion.

Cheryl Matthews, Public Information Officer
Yellowstone National Park
Phone: 307-344-2010
E-mail: cheryl_matthews@nps.gov

Marsha Karle, Assistant
Phone: 307-344-2015
E-mail: marsha_karle@nps.gov