Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Thousands of people from around the nation have declared their disgust regarding the State of Montana's management of the last wild buffalo herd. The petition originated on the World Wide Web, URL: http://www.wildrockies.org/buffpet, and received over 400 signatures a day from around the world. The petition demands that the federal government remove subsidized cattle grazing allotments on lands outside Yellowstone Park to make room for the last wild free roaming bison left in the United States.

Since the mid-1980's more than 3,000 buffalo have been killed by the State of Montana as they wander onto public lands that cattle graze graze for only 3 summer months. Recently, Montana's Governor Marc Racicot secured $500,000 of federal tax monies to carry out their zero-tolerance policy for buffalo.

"Instead of wasting taxpayers monies, we should look at the real ecological and economic costs of Montana's buffalo slaughters," is the message of the petition.

As an example, the petitioners point to Horse Butte just outside of West Yellowstone, Montana. Horse Butte contains only three cow/calf public grazing allotments which return less than $800 to the U.S. Treasury. Horse Butte is prime winter and spring calving habitat for migrating buffalo and critical for the buffalo's long-term survival.. The DOL may try to press it's zero tolerance buffalo policy, but the buffalo knows where it wants to go and they will go there.

"Forest Service lands that have been designated by law for wildlife should be used for wild buffalo. Public lands were intended for for wildlife and people, not livestock. Buffalo are wild creatures." said John Waters.

An alliance of citizens, native americans, animal rights, taxpayer and environmental groups presented the first batch of signatures to Chief of the Forest Service Mike Dombeck, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and President Clinton in front of the Forest Service Building in Washington DC on May 5th at 11:11 AM.

"It's amazing to see the public outcry from around the country about the abuse of the power from Montana's Governor Racicot and his speciest policies," said webmaster Jim Coefield.

The buffalo are not only an important part of traditional cultures and the ecological stability of the ecosystem, but a heritage for future generations.

Press Contacts:

Dave Henderson; Native Youth Alliance; Phone: 703-256-4346
Darrel Geist; Cold Mountains, Cold Rivers; Phone: 406-728-0867
Jim Coefield; Wild Rockies Information Network; Phone: 406-728-5733
email: buffpetition@wildrockies.org

Pass this on to 96more folks in honor of the 96 buffalo that were slaughtered this year! (see death count URL: http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo) There are also addresses of the people responsible for this slaughter on the "what you can do " page at this site if you would like to write subsequent letters or faxes. Video clips and photos and field updates are also at this site.

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