Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT - It has been quieter this week. A new layer of snow has fallen, the ice has proceeded in its yearly march across Lake Hebgen and the buffalo continue to share their calming patience with us in the field. It has not been an uneventful week for them: one bull was hazed across Highway 191 into Yellowstone on Tuesday, in quite a reckless operation. The morning haze and ice-slick roads, combined with the Department of Livestock's (DOL) insistence that a buffalo needed to be chased across the highway, created an extreme hazard for motorists and field patrols alike. Thankfully, there were no accidents. And yesterday, a local DOL agent hazed nine buffalo bulls back into the park, firing over ten "cracker rounds" - explosive concussion charges - at the herd from his shotgun. Imagine you are an animal preparing to face a winter in which the temperature will frequently fall to negative 20 Farenheit and below. Would you appreciate having your winter reserves wasted by the whims of trigger-happy brand inspectors? Me neither.

In other news, Mike Mease will undertake a mini-roadshow in the coming weeks. He will travel to sunny California to spread news of the plight of the Yellowstone bison herd. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, please come see a presentation and video show at 6:00pm on December 9, 2002. The event will be hosted by the Foundation for Deep Ecology - for more information, please call Tracee, phone: 415-229-9339 by December 6th.

And on this day that is set aside for giving thanks, I am grateful to the buffalo. They have taught me much about loyalty and about the sacred. Since last week's murder of a bull bison on Horse Butte, many of our patrols have witnessed something quite profound. The bull's body was driven to the Duck Creek capture facility, where it was skinned and stored in the pens, awaiting transport. Over the next few days, several buffalo made the dangerous trek onto the facility grounds. In what reminded us humans of a mourning gesture, and of a farewell to a fallen brother, the buffalo would stand motionless by the facility for varying lengths of time. Tben, as if they had suddenly finished a deep and meaningful conversation, the buffalo would turn and sprint away from the trap, leaving the killing grounds behind, and continue to run full speed into the safety of the Park. These noble ones reminded me of the grace and dignity that is thrown weekly to the wayside in the name of "Wildlife Management."

On behalf of all of us here, thank you. For the buffalo, Jonas Ehudin, BFC Media Coordinator.

The November 28, 2002, Bozeman Daily Chronicle carried two articles about the Yellowstone bison. In the first, there was much ado about the fact that the herd has actually recovered from the massive slaughter of the winter of '96-'97. To quote the article: "'We're right back to where we were eight years ago,' said Rick Wallen, a biologist who leads Yellowstone's bison ecology and management team. 'Even with all the management actions (killings).'" This ability of the bison to regenerate (somewhat) despite invaders' onslaughts is hardly new, as we can observe if we take a look at the last 150 years or so. Todd O'Hair, natural resources policy advisor for our beloved Governor Judy Martz, threw in his two cents with these gems:

        "We're going to have some serious management challenges this winter, no doubt about it," and in a second sidebar article:

        Maybe it's time to look at hunts again,"

This person is advising Martz on resource management? If O'Hair's plan for "managing" this bison herd is to increase the number of armed buffalo murderers in the area, then it is our duty to set him straight on the fact that this tactic has been tried and was condemned by national pressure and a threatened boycott. And if we're going to get so excited that the herd has grown to match, "its all time-peak of about about 4,000 animals," then let us remind our dear legislators that the real all-time peak was a herd size of between 50 and 80 million! Let's get the herd back to that state, then talk about hunting.

Alright, enough of my rant. Please take some time this holiday weekend to send off a letter to Todd O'Hair, Natural Resources Policy Advisor for Martz. Let him know that a return to hunting would translate to a sharp increase in the buffalo slaughter, and that is not what the herd needs, ever. Remind him that Montana eliminated the hunt a decade ago due to the unified voice of the public, and that such an outcry would no doubt be repeated should the Martz Administration attempt to reinstate such an atrocity.

Todd O'Hair can be reached at the State Capitol in Helena, MT 59620-0801, phone: 406-444-3111.

During this time of being thankful for what we have, just wanted to give you a quick reminder that one of our supporter's online auction in behalf of BFC is currently underway. You can check it out by visiting the following path on eBay: Father Christmas for the Buffalo, Santa, was donated to the cause by O'Ceallaigh Originals and signed by the artist, Melanie Kelley.

And on a blatantly commercialized note, if you are looking for that "special something" for anyone (or everyone) on your holiday list. Our T-shirts, Notecards, and the "Hope for Buffalo" print are beautiful and benefit a great cause! Check them out by going to; BFC Buffalo Bazaar

John Pisarcik is offering prints of "Hope for Buffalo", a limited run of 600 prints. The scene is a quiet moment where two adult buffalo lay and rest as a calf sleeps close by. This drawing was inspired by the majesty and dignity of an animal deserving our every effort towards ensuring its survival.

THANKS! to all of you for your continued support! We couldn't be here without you. For the future generations of wild free roaming buffalo, Su.

Donations are tax deductible and go directly to front lines work. BFC is the only group in the field 365 days a year with the last, free roaming buffalo.