Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

It has been another in a seemingly endless string of hard weeks in the Madison Valley. 35 bison were captured on Wednesday at the Horse Butte and Duck Creek traps. Two people were arrested; one for locking to the Horse Butte trap, and another in a blatant act of police harassment. Three trailers of bison were sent to slaughter this morning and no bison have been released as of this writing.

At 7:20 a.m. on Wednesday, two Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) agents on horseback hazed fourteen bison that had been grazing on the Madison River just west of Yellowstone National Park. The operation began within 1/4 mile of open water on the Horse Butte Peninsula. Gallatin National Forest regulations state that operations will only take place between 10 AM and 3 PM to protect the habitat of endangered bald eagles nesting on Horse Butte.

The illegal hazing went on for more than an hour before Charlie Brister of Stowe, VT attached himself to the facility with a lock box. It took about an hour for officials to remove Brister, who was arrested and charged with obstruction and trespassing.

Nicholas Cook was arrested during the capture while complying with police orders and another volunteer was detained during the operation along Highway 191 near the Duck Creek trap.

As the senseless slaughter continues and police harassment increases, our resolve only grows stronger. Volunteers, field activists, bioligists, lawyers, writers, etc., we need your help.

Together we do make a Difference! The news from the field can indeed be depressing. But, remember this time five years ago - hundreds of buffalo a day were being killed and none even heard about it! So - on the positive side... at least we know.

Knowledge is power, they say. Instead of becoming disheartened and saying "I can't make a difference" - so many of us are using the information gathered in the field to speak in behalf of the buffalo and are making a difference!

I respectfully thank each and everyone of you who keeps speaking in behalf of the powerful buffalo and letting the world know of their plight. Thanks to each of you who have made a phone call to your senators regarding the Animal Health Protection Act (Senate Bill 1482) attached to the Farm Bill (Senate Bill 1731) which has very bad language that could result in more buffalo deaths! Senators (phone: 202-224-3121 ) work for us and need to know what the public demands for these last wild buffalo. Thanks to each of you who have called Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton (phone: 202-208-7351; email: exsec@ios.doi.gov) and let her know that this is absurd!

Thanks also to all the dedicated Buffalo Exchange folks who put their energy and hearts into bringing awareness and some much needed support to this issue! The Earth Day Dollar Sale was a great success and we sincerely thank you!

Another hearty hurrah goes to all the artists and support folks with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tour that is rapidly coming to a close. Our Guac friends and Amy, David, Graham, Neil and Stephen have helped garner public awareness for the buffalo's plight. GRACIAS!

To the folks that are stepping up to support the matching Earth Friends grant for the scientific Horse Butte Wildlands Project - this could be the key that helps open up public lands for public wildlife! We will empower the issue by using good science instead of replicating the shady antics of public agencies.

There are folks out there doing video showings and collecting cartridges and setting up "Bucks For Buffalo" jars that are truly helping to bring true change - true protection for the buffalo! Our hats go off to you. It's hard to keep the rent paid and every buck is stretched as far as possible!

And to those brave men and women who have sacrificed their time to live in a crowded cabin and get up at 4:30 AM in below freezing temperatures - there are so many folks that keep you in their prayers daily and we hope that you know how appreciated your efforts are!

To each of you that has empowered yourself by writing a letter, making a phone call or telling someone about the issue - pat yourself on the back. It is indeed a wonderful thing to be able to resist apathy and speak out against injustice. Together we are making a difference!

So let's take a lesson from the majestic buffalo - put our heads down against the harsh breezes and push forward. Baby buffalo are frolicing in the sage and reminding us that we can preserve their wildness for future generations! Take hope.

I hope that some day we can all join together with people of all nations and celebrate true protection of the buffalo - until then we'll be in the fields and in our communities speaking out every day of the year!

Thank you, for the buffalo,
Su
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