Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT - My name is Jonas and I have returned to the campaign this season to work in the media realm. When I first came to this cabin on Hebgen Lake in December of 1999, I was inspired by the people and the energy I encountered here. I was inspired by the buffalo and the slow patience of the herds. I have been involved in various ways since then, and this will be my first full season here. I am grateful for all of your interest and support - I am strengthened by the knowledge that there are so many people out there whose hearts feel the pain of the injustice being done to these sacred beings. I will do my best to keep you all informed as to the current situation, and unfortunately I must warn you that this season looks to be quite hard on the buffalo, and on us all.

This morning, shortly before 9:00 am, a beautiful large bull bison, who had been grazing peacefully for weeks on Horse Butte, was gunned down by an agent of the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL). The agent was not acting alone, as nine other government officials were actively engaged in this atrocity. Our field patrols witnessed the killing from afar, as their movement was limited during the operation. An MDOL agent told us earlier in the day that this was to be a simple hazing operation, which in itself is too much stress to place on a wild animal trying to survive the winter. The sharp crack of the rifle betrayed that lie, and we were left to film the scene and shed tears for our fallen family member.

This was the first buffalo shot dead in the field this season, but he was not the first to be killed. Three other bulls were captured and slaughtered in early October. This has been a hard day for us all, please keep the buffalo in your thoughts and in your hearts. And please get in touch with Becky Heath, Gallatin National Forest Supervisor - today's actions are especially reprehensible in light of her statement below.

Please Take Action!  Today's murder of a bull bison on Gallatin National Forest land is in direct opposition to a report made to Senator Baucus on November 15, by Becky Heath, Forest Supervisor. She wrote:

The Gallatin National Forest, along with four other govt. agencies, is currently managing for bison according to the Interagency Bison Management Plan. The primary goals of the plan are to preserve a population of free-roaming bison and to significantly reduce the risk of bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle. Bison are allowed to roam free on the Gallatin National Forest, where brucellosis is not an issue. There is currently not an active cattle allotment in the Horse Butte area (near West Yellowstone), nor will there be until a National Environmental Policy Act process/document is done for that allotment. There are cattle grazing on private land east of Horse Butte and other areas both west and north of Yellowstone Park. Cattle grazing on private land will continue to be an issue as long as the bison carry brucellosis.

Clearly, the DOL does not share Supervisor Heath's belief that bison are allowed to freely roam in the Gallatin National Forest. Please take a moment to contact her and ask her why she is allowing a Montana state agency to shoot buffalo on lands she has indicated are designated for their use. Let her know that since there are no active cattle allotments on Horse Butte, there is no reason for buffalo to be turned violently away from those lands. Remind her that she conveyed that logic in her own statement.

Becky Heath can be reached by way of:

Gallatin National Forest Supervisor's Office
c/o Becky Heath P.O. Box 130 Bozeman, Montana 59771
Phone: 406-587-6702 ~ FAX: 406-587-6758
E-mail: bjheath@fs.fed.us