Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Dear friends and supporters,

Many new volunteers have arrived in the last week, filling the cabin with new faces and high energy. Since relatively few buffalo are leaving the Park these days, we have focused a lot of creative energy on planning for rallies in the area. It is inspiring to see so many people come from around the world to defend the Yellowstone bison. The fresh spirit of our volunteers is the lifeblood of this work -- if you have been considering a visit, please get in touch with us. The late spring months traditionally see a drop in volunteer numbers, just at the time when large groups of highly-mobile bison are literally all over this valley. It is a beautiful time to share this land with the buffalo and the abundance of wildlife in the area.

The DOL have been busy burning up their budget with little to show for their efforts. Tuesday, while our ESA lawsuit (more below) was being heard in Helena, a handful of public agents occupied themselves plowing and widening Horse Butte's FS 610 road again, and standing around near their vehicles doing very little but waiting and answering their cell phones.

The next day, after a strong BFC showing in federal court, the DOL was out again in full force. Seven snowmobiles, carrying agents from the DOL, Park Service, Forest Service, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, worked together with agents on horseback and local sheriffs to chase two bull bison back into Yellowstone. The wise bulls led them around the woods for a few hours, regularly losing them and causing one of our favorite DOL agents to roll his snowmobile (he was not injured, and later asked whether we'd gotten his spill on video). While the day's end witnessed the buffalo safely grazing in the Park, the energy wasted during that intense chase will no doubt have a serious effect on their chances for survival this winter.

For the buffalo,
Ted & Jonas

P.S.- A challenge to our readers: please tell two friends, co-workers or family members about the Yellowstone buffalo, and encourage them to sign up for these weekly e-mail updates. They can send us a subscription request by e-mail. Help us get the word out to the world!