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BFC Celebrates 15 Years with the Buffalo

* Update from the Field ~ BFC Celebrates 15 Years with the Buffalo

This week marks the 15th anniversary of my moving to a little trailer in Gardiner, Montana to start what is now known as Buffalo Field Campaign.  Lakota elder Rosalie Little Thunder and I put together this frontlines presence to protect the buffalo.

Mike Mease speaks for wild buffalo.  BFC file photo.  Click photo for larger image.

As I sit here today on Horse Butte watching hundreds of buffalo enjoy being buffalo with no harassment, torture, or slaughter, I reflect on how far we’ve come.  During the years leading up to the formation of Buffalo Field Campaign any buffalo that stepped foot outside of Yellowstone Park were killed by many different methods as soon as the government agents spotted them.  The agents gunned down whole herds and then sent in Native Americans to do all the work of gutting, butchering, and hauling the carcasses out of the woods while livestock agents sat back out of earshot making rude comments.  They shot and killed buffalo in front of children waiting for the school bus and on the way to and home from school.  Gut piles were left in visible places for the whole community to see and smell.  The buffalo that were captured and sent to slaughter had their heads, hides, and meat sold at auctions and the Department of Livestock (DOL) kept the money.  The DOL even kept the money when Yellowstone National Park killed buffalo with our tax dollars.  All of these atrocities committed against our country’s last descendants of the millions of buffalo that once roamed the continent were hidden from the public.

During the winter of 1996-‘97 an estimated 3,500 buffalo existed in Yellowstone and that same winter the Department of Livestock and National Park Service (NPS) shipped 1,084 buffalo to slaughter.  Another 400 to 800 died naturally from the harsh winter.  I had to do something. 
   BFC file photos.  Click for larger images. 

I had noticed that wherever I had my video camera the agents had avoided killing buffalo.  I would find the largest herd of buffalo out of the Park and in danger and stay with them.  The DOL would go shoot smaller herds.  This became a founding philosophy of the BFC.  We would document and hold the government accountable for every action that they took against the buffalo.  If we could be with the buffalo that are out of the park we could show the world and stop the senseless slaughter.  Years of documenting the slaughter gave us the ability to produce videos and newsletters for outreach on the issue.

  BFC co-founders Mike Mease and Rosalie Little Thunder and the buffalo bus that began to spread the word to save the last wild herds!  BFC file photo.  Click for larger image.

Our first move was to educate Yellowstone visitors.  Exercising our free speech rights in Yellowstone National Park, we have staffed tables at popular spots in the park for the past 15 summers.  During the first year I also traveled to Grand Teton National Park, attended music festivals, and drove to other events in a Volkswagen bus that several artists had magically transformed into a giant buffalo.   I drove that van more than 10,000 miles, sending donations home as I received them to pay the Campaign’s bills.

  The original BFC crew sitting on the porch of the new headquarters in West Yellowstone.  BFC file photo.  Click for larger image. 

That fall we had the opportunity to move into our current headquarters near West Yellowstone and we jumped on it.  The summer’s outreach resulted in a solid foundation of supporters and a solid corps of volunteers coming from all over the world to stand with and defend the buffalo.  These volunteers set up blockades, locked down to the capture facilities, and did anything they could think of to stop the killing.  The resulting arrests brought publicity and media attention that the government did not want.  During our first year in the field only 11 buffalo were killed in contrast to the nearly 1,100 killed the previous winter.  We were making a difference.
  Direct action!  "Brucellosis:  Kill the Myth, Not the Buffalo!" BFC file photo.  Click photo for larger image. 

The following year brought yet more volunteers and more buffalo migrated out of the park.  On Forest Service Road 610, during an extremely cold winter, a blockade was erected to stop the Horse Butte capture facility from being setup.  This structure turned in to a 17-pole art piece that held off all harassment of the buffalo for more than seven weeks.  Many people endured 40 degrees below zero nights, perched high on a platform dangling from the structure to help save the buffalo.  Nonviolent direct action was the foundation of this country and I have been honored to be with many individuals that have chosen this path in defense of the buffalo.  I have personally been arrested three times for the buffalo.  Two of these arrests were illegal attempts by the agents to prevent me from documenting and were thrown out of court.  These arrests inspired some volunteers to put themselves through law school.  These lawyers now defend the buffalo in our all-important legal wars.   Buffalo are still dying but now more people are aware.  The buffalo sent to slaughter now are given to reservations or food banks and the DOL no longer profits from their sale.  As the years go by the arrests keep coming and national pressure starts to grow.

  Mike Mease and Rob Burns of the Gallatin County Sherriff's Department.  BFC file photo.  Click for larger image.

A new “kinder, gentler” PR ploy has largely replaced the wanton shooting and capture: hazing the buffalo back into the Park.  This war zone approach spreads the harassment to all wildlife in the ecosystem.  Imagine you are standing along the banks of the meandering Madison river watching the snow melt as birds return from their winter homes, grizzly bears feed on winter kills, moose, elk and deer nibble on fresh grasses, and buffalo moms nurse their newborn calves.  Now imagine the chaos as the DOL’s helicopter descends upon this tranquil scene from over the horizon and flies 20 feet above the buffalo’s head.  ATVs and angry horseman arrive next, yelling, honking horns, and throwing rocks to chase the animals from the National Forest.  Pickup trucks, forest and park rangers, Gallatin county sheriffs, and highway patrol officers relocate anything in their path.  This is how this last intact ecosystem is abused with your tax dollars.

    The "kinder, gentler" approaches to wild buffalo abuse, paid for with your tax dollars.  BFC file photo.  Click for larger image.

The brucellosis argument loses weight as elk spread the disease to livestock in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho and all three states lose their coveted brucellosis-free status.  Yet no action is taken against the elk, just the killing of more buffalo.  Buffalo have never once transmitted the disease brought here and given to our wildlife by cows.  Despite the closing of the last cattle grazing allotment on Horse Butte and new landowners who want buffalo on their properties, the state still won’t “tolerate” buffalo and continues to kill them.  Baby steps are the common used term for progress on the buffalo issue.  While the buffalo are allowed a few more steps out of the park, they’re never given year-round access to habitat and are always subject to a “drop dead” line across which they cannot step.  Yellowstone buffalo are the only species that is expected to stay within the park.  What a buffalo goes through in a year has changed a little but still they must endure a lack of tolerance and even death.

From November through February for the past seven years the buffalo have been welcomed to Montana with a so-called hunt.  Many years every buffalo to cross the boundary is killed.  Native Americans have been force-fed the hunt as the only way they can have their treaties recognized by the state and federal governments.  At present four reservations have had their treaties recognized to hunt.  The buffalo management plan calls for a cap of 3,000 on the buffalo’s total population.  This will make sure none of the first nations will ever be allowed to subsist from the buffalo again.   BFC honors and respects the treaty rights of all first nations and is actively working to help remove this disgraceful plan and put people that have the buffalo interests at heart in charge.

  BFC file photo.  Click for larger image.

As long as volunteers continue to join us in the field and supporters continue to make our work possible with their contributions we will stand and fight for the buffalo.  More than 5,000 volunteers have come to stand with the buffalo from every state in the US and countries around the world.  The majority of BFC’s funding is contributed by people sending donations of $50 or less.  This message that the people want us to continue the fight keeps me strong every day.  But it is the buffalo that will make me never leave until this land is theirs again.  They have the lessons that humanity has forgotten or never learned.  Everyone counts in the buffalo world.  Everyone is just as important as everybody else.   Together we can do anything.  I will be here until this ends or I die.  Thank you all for allowing me to dedicate my life to this most important work.

With the Buffalo,
Mike Mease

* BFC Flashback

  One of BFC's first winters in the field with the buffalo.  BFC file photo.  Click photo for larger image.

Here is the very first Update from the Field, dated October 22, 1997.  Co-founded by Lakota elder Rosalie Little Thunder and videographer/activist Mike Mease, the front lines wild buffalo advocacy group began as Buffalo Nations.  Out of respect for the People who are Tatanka Oyate, the Buffalo Nation, we soon changed our name to Buffalo Field Campaign.

  This is the print newsletter Buffalo Field Campaign put out after the 1998-1999 season.  Click on the image to download and read the newsletter. 

Have a BFC Flahsback you'd like to share?  In honor of our fifteen years on the front lines with America's last wild buffalo, we'll be sharing BFC blasts from the past over the course of the year.  If you'd like to share some of your stories please send them!  Photos are also welcome!


* NEW TAKE ACTION!  Tell Governor Schweitzer to Call off the Dept. of Livestock!

Hundreds of wild buffalo are currently enjoying peaceful times on Horse Butte, important habitat where there are never any cattle.  Very soon, wild buffalo will begin to give birth.  Horse Butte and the surrounding riparian and forested landscape are favored by the central wild buffalo herds, who migrate west from Yellowstone into Montana every spring.  Most of these lands are cattle-free public lands and some are buffalo-friendly private lands, where buffalo should be allowed to roam year round.  Yet, by May 15th, the Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) and other state and federal agencies will descend upon this wildlife-rich ecosystem to terrorize the animals and harm the habitat, using horsemen, helicopters, and a variety of law enforcement to forcibly move (haze) native wild buffalo - including newborn calves and pregnant cows - out of Montana.

 

Montana is the lead entity in decisions made about wild buffalo in the Hebgen Basin, with the MT Department of Livestock calling all the shots.  Please tell Montana Governor Schweitzer to call off the Department of Livestock, halt the hazing and let wild buffalo follow their own instincts to return to summer ranges.


* Nominate Buffalo Field Campaign for the 2012 Green Awards

Buffalo Field Campaign is in the running for Great Nonprofits' 2012 Green Awards to identify top-rated nonprofits focusing on environmental issues around the globe.  We need your help if we are to win.  Your story can help BFC gain valuable feedback and guide others who might provide support by donating or volunteering.

Please take three minutes to help nominate Buffalo Field Campaign by writing a review by April 30th!


* Missing Your Buffalo Family? Return to the Front Lines!

  Thank you for having spent so much time here before and we want you to come home again!  BFC file photo.  Click photo for larger image.

Hey Buffalo Family!!!

Spring is here and so are the buffalo.  We are so grateful to be in the field watching these amazing creatures soaking up the warm rays of spring sun, feeling the nutrition of the green spring grasses, romping and running with their herds.  Our collective energies seem to be relaxed and for the moment at ease.  Our volunteers, however, know what is coming down the line and we are honoring our calm and reflective time now as we prepare what will surely be disruptive and trying actions in the future.  We are blessed with a great new crew of volunteers, and we could use the help of experienced BFC volunteers to help us guide them through the coming heavy hazing season.  If you're missing the buffalo and your buffalo family, please come on home to us!  We need you!  Get in touch and come home to the buffalo.

Peet
Support Coordinator
Buffalo Field Campaign

* BFC Wish List:  Assorted Optics

We could use some help to (literally) keep our sights on the buffalo.  We find ourselves in need of new optics:  Cameras, binoculars, spotting scopes, and equipment to steady these optics.  Below is a section of our wish list that focuses on optics including quantities that will help keep all BFC field volunteers well-equipped.  Any contribution for these items is extremely helpful and important to the campaign, whether it is a ten dollar donation towards optics or the entirety of the list.  Thanks to each and every one of you for loving the buffalo and for keeping BFC going and our volunteers prepared in the field every day.  If you can help with these assorted optics wishes please contact our gear coordinator.

• (6-10 pairs) compact high-resolution binoculars, water- and fog-proof, 7-10x 35-70mm magnification
• (6-10 pairs) full-size high-resolution binoculars, water- and fog-proof, 7-10x 35-70mm magnification
• (3-5) high-resolution spotting scopes, standard tripod- or window-mounted, with zoom, 16-60x 60(+)mm magnification
• (3) compact tripods
• (3) full-size fluid head video tripods
• (3-5) Walking/Ski pole Monopods with standard camera mount (eg. Leki, Tracks brands)

Click HERE to view BFC's complete Wish List


* Gorgeous Buffalo Artwork Available, Sales to Benefit BFC

  Click image to view and purchase.

BFC supporter Julia Lucey is an incredibly talented artist whose work is featured in BFC's Wild Bison 2012 calendar.  Julia says, "As many of you know, a great deal of my inspiration comes from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The last genetically pure Bison are found here, but are challenged daily to follow their natural migratory paths ... I have given 5% of all of my sales to [Buffalo Field Campaign's] cause since I began my art career. I recently designed some cards for them (which will be available for sale from BFC later this spring). The etchings I made while trying to find the right design for them are for sale now on etsy with 100% of the sales price going directly to them."

Thank you so much Julia!

View and purchase:  Julia Lucey Buffalo Art #1   **  Julia Lucey Buffalo Art #2


* Endangered Buffalo Fact of the Week

Smaller bison herds gradually lose their genetic diversity.  A herd of 2000-3000 bison will lose an estimated 5% of its alleles each 100 years.  A herd of less than 400 bison will suffer some degree of inbreeding.  South of Canada, there are but forty-four non-commercial bison herds on native range.  Thirty-three of these herds are fewer than 400 animals.  Forty-two herds have fewer than 2000.  Of the two herds with fewer than 2000 bison, one is inflicted with a substantial amount of cattle genes.  Only the Yellowstone herds exceed 2000 animals and apparently have no cattle-gene introgression.  (Jim Bailey, Belgrade, Montana)

Jim Bailey's papers, and other bison conservation papers, can be downloaded and viewed HERE

Have a fact you'd like to share with us? 


* By the Numbers

AMERICAN BUFFALO ELIMINATED from the last wild population in the U.S. The last wild population is currently estimated at fewer than 3,700 individual buffalo.  Wild bison are currently ecologically extinct throughout their native range in North America.

2011-2012 Total Buffalo Killed: 29

2011-2012 Government Capture:
2011-2012 Government Slaughter:
2011-2012 Held for Government Experiment:
2011-2012 Died In Government Trap:
2011-2012 Miscarriage in Government Trap:
2011-2012 State & Treaty Hunts: 28
2011-2012 Quarantine:
2011-2012 Shot by Agents:
2011-2012 Killed by Angry Residents:
2011-2012 Highway Mortality:  1

2010-2011 Total:  227
2009-2010 Total:  7
2008-2009 Total: 22
2007-2008 Total: 1,631

* Total Since 2000: 4,001*

*includes lethal government action, trap-related fatalities, quarantine/experiments, hunts, highway mortality


* Last Words

"Those of us already here roam the fields with the buffalo daily and have a kinship with them. The magnificence and ruggedness of these beautiful animals has all of us in awe of their role in nature and humble us in our own role. There is nothing quite like the sight of buffalo playing while a bald eagle flies overhead, a coyote hunts for scurrying food, a wolf howls in the not-so-far distance, while we keep a watchful eye out for the D.O.L. All in a day's work at Buffalo Nations. So come out and be ready for action or help support us in anyway you can. "

~ From a December 29, 1998 Buffalo Nations alert, which can be read in full HERE


Do you have submissions for Last Words? Send them to us! Thank you for all the poems, songs, quotes and stories you have been sending!  Keep them coming!

Media & Outreach
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

BFC is the only group working in the field every day
in defense of the last wild buffalo population in the U.S.

KEEP BFC ON THE FRONTLINES

Join Buffalo Field Campaign -- It's Free!

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BFC & WWP Defend Bison's Room to Roam

Buffalo Field Campaign and Western Watersheds Project File to Intervene
in Lawsuit to Defend Bison's Room to Roam Beyond Yellowstone National Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 14, 2011

Press contacts:
Darrell Geist, Habitat Coordinator Buffalo Field Campaign: 406-646-0070; z@wildrockies.org
Jon Marvel, Executive Director Western Watersheds Project: 208-788-2290; jon@westernwatersheds.org

Lewistown, MT:  Buffalo Field Campaign and Western Watersheds Project filed today to intervene in consolidated lawsuits by Park County and the Park County Stockgrowers Association to stop a plan by the state of Montana to permit bison some room to migrate within Gardiner Basin outside Yellowstone National Park.

The groups say Gardiner Basin provides critical winter habitat and is a key corridor for the migratory species to roam in Montana.

"This reconnection of buffalo and the land on which they belong is a long overdue first step," said Daniel Brister, Executive Director of Buffalo Field Campaign.  "Local Montanans welcome the buffalo's migration, have learned to live with buffalo, and desire to see the wild species return."

Gardiner Basin encompasses a small portion of the bison's northern winter range originally reaching 40 miles beyond Yankee Jim Canyon into Paradise Valley along the Yellowstone River.

Park County residents who filed affidavits in state court say the bison need a break from wasteful taxpayer funded government hazing, capture, and slaughter operations that harms their interest in co-existing with the wild species in their native range.

"Yellowstone is one of a very few nearly intact ecosystems on the planet and is considered a world treasure," said Fred Baker, who owns property the bison migrate onto along the Old Yellowstone Trail. "To not support free roaming Bison in my opinion is an American travesty."

"I found this winter very special in viewing bison up and down the Gardiner Basin," said Gardiner, Montana resident Scott Hoeninghausen. "A limited amount of tolerance created an unlimited amount of beauty."

The plan agreed to by Montana would permit some bison to temporarily occupy some winter range in the Gardiner Basin.

Bison migrating beyond Yankee Jim Canyon would be subject to shooting by state officials, an action which the groups and residents deplore.

"It is long past time for bison to be able to return to their historic range in Montana," said Jon Marvel, executive director of Western Watersheds Project. "WWP welcomes the opportunity to support the State of Montana."

District Court Judge E. Wayne Phillips of Lewistown has scheduled a hearing for the consolidated cases in which BFC and WWP seek to intervene in the fall of 2011.

Judge Phillips replaced Park County District Court Judge Nels Swandal who was removed from the case after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks petitioned for a new judge.

Before he was removed from hearing the suit, Judge Swandal granted a temporary restraining order to the stock growers and the county thwarting Montana participation in the new agreed upon plan.

Longest Walk Visits YNP Bison

The Walk Across 
Turtle Island

  BFC joins in solidarity as The Longest Walk takes a detour to pray for the buffalo and comes through Gardiner, MT.  On the left, Good Shield holds barb's ski pole, which he beautifully decorated after her passing.  This ski pole was the walking aid she always used, propping it outside the media cabin door as a sign of her there-ness.  You are always with us, barb!  BFC file photo. 

As the mid-morning Montana sun warmed the half-frozen landscape, the sound of the Yellowstone river rippled along to the sound of cars driving by the Corwin Springs capture facility.  The drivers turned to look at a group of Native and non-Native youth and elders gathering by the side of the road to pay respects to their four-legged relatives, who's wounds were still fresh from being tortured by APHIS, DOL and Yellowstone the week before.  

The group of people, known as The Longest Walkers, had been marching for just over a month from the West Coast and would eventually arrive in Washington, D.C.  Their mission and purpose is to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of diabetes, particularly in Native communities, due to the loss of traditional diet and the force-fed commodity GMO and high fructose "foods."  They had stopped at many different Native reservations along the way, including some whose people had participated in the Yellowstone buffalo hunt.  It became apparent that they had to stop in Gardiner for spiritual reasons.

Upon arriving at Corwin Springs, The Longest Walkers made tobacco offerings and prayers, and along with BFC volunteers, began their spiritual walk to Gardiner.  In just about an hour and a half, the walkers arrived at the Park entrance and were greeted by a herd of thirty buffalo.

The Walkers moved past Yellowstone's arch and straight towards a family group of buffalo, waiting there to greet them.  BFC file photo. 

As songs were sung the buffalo all stood and faced East, with one mother nodding her head along to the drum beat.  Many good words were spoken and the buffalo seemed to know why they were there.  After a closing prayer circle, the walkers headed to the Gardiner BFC camp, where a feast of wild game and good stories awaited them.  The Walkers thanked BFC for what they do and everybody was left inspired and with good hearts.  The entire day was truly an impromptu "making of relations" ceremony.  This is just the beginning.

~ Good Shield

P.S.  Please tune in to this incredible new video, A BFC Volunteer Perspective, Featuring Good Shield

Video-Save Yellowstone Bison

31 Bison Captured Inside Yellowstone, Hunting Tragedy

Buffalo Field Campaign


Yellowstone Bison

Update from the Field

January 6, 2011
------------------------------

* Update from the Field: 31 Bison Captured Inside Yellowstone, Hunting Tragedy

Shame on Yellowstone! Wild bufalo confined in pens at Stephens Creek trap, inside Yellowstone National Park. NPS file photo. Click here for larger image.


Hazing operations have been taking place nearly every day along migration routes north of Yellowstone. Early Tuesday afternoon, Yellowstone National Park and the Montana Department of Livestock began capturing wild buffalo at the Stephens Creek buffalo trap, inside Yellowstone National Park, for the ill-conceived Royal Teton Ranch (RTR) land scheme, which BFC refers to as the Corridor to Nowhere. The RTR land scheme is a $3.3 million agreement between the Church Universal & Triumphant (CUT), Yellowstone National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and the National Parks Conservation Association. CUT has been given private and taxpayer money in exchange for removing their cattle for only 30 years and allowing just twenty-five bison temporary access to small portions of public lands on Gallatin National Forest and CUT lands.


BFC patrols in Gardiner report that a total of thirty-one buffalo have so far been captured. Yellowstone intends to capture between 60 and 80 buffalo for their experiment.


The $3.3 million RTR land scheme - paid for with public and private money - is falsely described as a step towards "increased tolerance" for wild buffalo in Montana. It is utterly incongruous to say that this experiment holds any benefit for wild buffalo, it is simply one more way that Yellowstone, Montana and certain conservation groups compromise the wild integrity of America's last wild bison by managing them as livestock.


The buffalo hazed into the trap will be held in confinement for an unknown period of time, placing them under a great deal of stress and, based upon similar operations in the past, causing serious injury and even death to some of the captured animals. Family groups will be separated, mothers from calves, brothers from sisters. They will then suffer squeeze chutes, blood tests, and highly invasive pregnancy tests. Yellowstone and Montana will randomly choose twenty-five buffalo from this test group that have blood-tested negative for exposure to brucellosis, and then further torment them by forcing them to wear ear tags, radio collars, and - for pregnant females - vaginal telemetry devices. These twenty-five buffalo will then be pushed through a small Corridor to Nowhere, encompassing less than 2,800 acres, surrounded by electric fencing and cattle guards, where they will be expected to stay until spring before they are eventually hazed back into Yellowstone.

Don't believe the spin you hear from proponents of this RTR experiment! Please read BFC's press release to learn more details about this ill-conceived Corridor to Nowhere.

For nearly six weeks, this family group had found safe refuge in the no-hunting area of Yellowstone Vilalge, a buffalo-friendly neighborhood, until they were chased out by hunters, who killed three. BFC file photo by Stephany.


More buffalo have been killed by hunters just outside of Yellowstone National Park, raising this winter's death toll to forty-six. A family group buffalo that had been living safely inside the buffalo-friendly private lands of Yellowstone Village, where no hunting is allowed, were pushed off of private property by a Confederated Salish-Kootenai hunting party. They were chased by the hunters with snowmobiles and on foot onto Gallatin National Forest land, and three of them - two adult cows and a young bull - were shot. Consequently, two calves were orphaned, and after the incident, one of the calves, lost and confused, was later struck by a vehicle and killed. These buffalo had found a safe haven in Yellowstone Village, and had been there for more than six weeks, but the refuge they had during the hunt was violated. Local residents and BFC have been deeply heartbroken and disturbed by this tragic event. We contacted Tribal officials, who were likewise very upset to hear this news and have opened an investigation. We are working together with the Tribe to make sure that such incidents do not happen again.


BFC co-founder Mike Mease was interviewed on CNN's Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell
Watch it here:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/12/23/jvm.buffalo.being.forced.out.hln

Charges Dropped Against BFC Volunteers!

This is from the BFC update

Volunteers Exonerated for Illegal Arrests by Government Agents
Court Dismisses Charges Against Buffalo Field Campaign Volunteers

Last week two Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers were cleared of criminal charges stemming from a June 2, 2010 arrest in the Gallatin National Forest outside Yellowstone National Park. The two volunteers were videotaping wild Yellowstone bison that were attempting to follow their ancient migration route out of Yellowstone National Park and onto public land in the Gallatin National Forest.

Government agents on horseback, employed by the Montana Department of Livestock and other agencies, were hazing the bison down a road toward Yellowstone National Park. As the two volunteers attempted to videotape the hazing operation, a government agent ordered them to get inside their vehicle. When the volunteers questioned the legality of the order, they were arrested. Their preliminary hearings in Gallatin County Justice Court were set for the end of August. Before those hearings could occur, their charges were dismissed by the judge "for good cause shown" on August 16, 2010.

The Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers were represented by attorney Summer Nelson and cooperating Civil Liberties Defense Center attorney Rebecca Smith. In response to the dismissal of the charges, Smith stated, "we had a video recording of the incident so it was undisputed that these two volunteers were simply standing on public land trying to videotape a government operation. They were not in an area closed to the public; they were not blocking the movement of the buffalo or the agents; and they spoke to the agents and police officers in a respectful manner. They simply weren't willing to relinquish their constitutional rights to be present on open public land and film a matter of public interest." She continued, "Buffalo Field Campaign has been videotaping and publicizing these hazing operations for 13 years. We didn't need a trial to establish that these volunteers didn't break the law."

Lauren Regan, attorney and Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Defense Center added, "It is extremely unfortunate that public officials abused their power in an attempt to chill the lawful constitutional rights of citizens. Monitoring government operations, especially cruel and unnecessary ones like this, is a basic tenet of our democratic duties as citizens. The government agents in question should be provided some training on the Constitution and Bill of Rights as soon as possible so that this type of travesty does not occur again."

Buffalo Field Campaign Executive Director Dan Brister stated: "After years of frivolous arrests and trumped up charges against our volunteers, it is refreshing to see that the courts are capable of delivering real justice."Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group working in the field and on the policy front to protect America's last wild buffalo and their habitat.

Contact:
Rebecca Smith, Missoula, MT, 406-531-8133
Lauren Regan, Civil Liberties Defense Center, Eugene, OR, 541-687-9180

Horse Butte Closed to Cattle!!

FINALLY! Gallatin National Forest has closed Horse Butte to cattle grazing. This is where the buffalo give birth in spring time. No cattle have even grazed here for 8 years. It's about time it was officially closed. The reason for the closure is simply because the "valuable habitat for grizzly bears, wolves and western toads would be hurt if cattle returned to the area." The closure had NOTHING to due with buffalo.“Bison are recognized as an issue in that area, but they were not the reason the allotment was closed," says Hebgen Lake District Ranger Lauren Turner. Not surprising.

Horse Butte Grazing Allotment Suitability Analysis

Planet Green Video on YNP Buffalo

TELEVISION SHOW HIGHLIGHTS YELLOWSTONE BISON CONTROVERSY
"Buffalo Battle" Airs on Discovery's Planet Green December 5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 1, 2009
Contacts:
Stephany Seay, Buffalo Field Campaign 406-646-0070, bfc-media@wildrockies.org
Mike Mease, Buffalo Field Campaign, 406-646-0070, mease@wildrockies.org

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA: On Saturday, December 5 at 10pm EST, Discovery Channel's Planet Green will air Buffalo Battle, a one-hour television documentary on the plight of America's only continuously wild bison population and the work of Buffalo Field Campaign.

Buffalo Battle captures the ongoing war against wild bison and the conflict between bison advocates, government agencies and Montana's cattle industry as wild bison follow their seasonal migratory instincts from the high country of Yellowstone National Park into the state of Montana. State and federal agencies - including Yellowstone National Park and the Montana Department of Livestock - spend millions of federal dollars to enforce Montana's intolerance for native bison. Government agents have killed more than 3,600 wild bison since 2000.

"We are very excited for the opportunity to bring the buffalo's plight into the living rooms of so many Americans," said Mike Mease, Campaign Coordinator with Buffalo Field Campaign, "Buffalo Battle will allow viewers to experience the buffalo's mistreatment firsthand, learn about the forces behind the slaughter, and take part in efforts to protect the bison and their habitat."

Matthew Testa, creator of the award-winning 2001 documentary The Buffalo War, is the executive producer of Buffalo Battle. Testa and his film crew spent weeks in the field with Buffalo Field Campaign, interviewing activists, government agencies, and local ranchers while witnessing first-hand the continuing struggle wild buffalo face on their native landscape.

"I'm fascinated and inspired by the dedication of Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers," said Matt Testa, executive producer of Buffalo Battle. "BFC is a diverse group and everyone has a unique story about how they came to join the cause. No matter where you stand on the buffalo issue, I think these volunteers show us that anyone can take a stand for what they believe in. And when you add lots of action, a beautiful setting, and a controversial animal issue in our crown jewel National Park that many Americans don't know about, it makes for great television."

For thirteen years Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers have come from all over the nation and around the globe, withstanding one of the most inhospitable climates in the Lower 48 states to stand on the front lines in defense of wild bison. Buffalo Field Campaign is a comprehensive source of news and information on the bison issue, documenting all actions made against wild bison and advocating for their right to roam.

Buffalo Field Campaign video footage and photographs were used in the production of Buffalo Battle.

For more information, video clips and photos visit http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

Interagency Bison Management Plan

November 17 & 18 were the IBMP meetings to decide the fate of the last remaining genetically pure, continuously wild buffalo in this country. Below are the notes from these meetings written by Stephany Seay.

IBMP MEETING NOTES 1/17/09:

Three tribal representatives were at the table:

* ITBC - Christina Krocher

* Nez Perce - Brooklyn Baptise

* Confederated Salish & Kootenai - Tom McDonald

Good News First:

~AMP changes reflect there will be additional tolerance for bulls North of Duck Creek; expand suitable habitat for bull bison west of Cutler Lake and Cutler Meadow; expand suitable habitat for bull bison in the Maiden Baisen area off Little Trail Creek on east side of Yellowstone River (as outlined in IBMP Annual Report for 2008-2009 - see press release pasted below)

~ APHIS & Idaho Fish & Game want to study bull bison semen more closely to ensure the zero risk, and if that's what they find, bulls may be tolerated in Idaho.

*Adaptive Management / '09-'10 Operations:

~ DOL opened with expressing frustrating at "repeated breaches" of bison moving into Zone 3 via the South Side of the Madison River

~ Zaluski said that 250 on the Butte and 25 on the South Side ("flats" they called it) triggers breeches

~ DOL claims there's "no habitat" on the South Side (they forgot about the burn)

~ Zaluski proposed a change to the Adaptive Management Plan: NO BUFFALO ALLOWED on the South Side, or LIMIT the number of buffalo on Horse Butte

~ DOL wants to take immediate management actions if buffalo are on the south side: 1. Capture; 2. Haze back into Park; 3. Haze to Horse Butte

~ DOL claimed 13 "breaches" on the South Side last spring

"The bison did not behave like we hoped they would" ~ Mary Zaluski

~ Cattle arrived at Povah's on 6/17. Apparenty, he runs some cow/calf pairs, and also 200 steers (brucellosis proof livestock). He leases the land, so DOL says they "never know" what he'll have, since he's a private property owner and can pretty much do what he wants

~ Tierny and Zaluski claimed there were "a lot" of other producers affected by buffalo "breaching" into Zone 3, but they couldn't name any of the ranchers or places.

They proposed a change to the Adaptive Mangement Plan under 1.1 and 1.1A. to allow NO buffalo on the South Side. This was met with some resistance by Yellowstone and Gallatin.

~ "The triggers we've established are much too tolerant" ~ Marty Zaluski

~ Tierny kept expressing how difficult it is to haze bison from the south side and how much time, people and money it takes to continue to do it.

~ Suzanne Lewis and Mary Erickson were not in agreement with changing the plan to reflect zero buffalo on south side.

~ Lewis actually said that more habitat needs to be established outside the Park. Echoed, strongly, by P.J. White who really raised his voice for the buffalo this time.

~ Mary Erickson said that one year's worth of data is not enough to make such a significant change to AMP, and that if they don't allow buffalo on South Side, then that removes 1/2 of Zone 2

~ Everyone agreed they were in disagreement, and hence at a stalemate and would take it up again on Day 2 of the meetings.

~ Lewis and Erickson said that even though the agents may have had to work hard, there was NO THREAT OF TRANSMISSION with having buffalo on the South Side.

~ Erickson & Lwewis told the DOL that they already had the tools and authority in the AMP to deal with these "breaches" yet they chose not to use them. DOL response was very confusing, but they disagreed.

~ Both Nez Perce and Salish-Kootenai reps said that 1) one year of data is insigificant and should not be the catalyst for such suggested changes; 2) The DOL should be aware of the producers and what they are bringing on to the landscape if they want to make good decisions

Royal Teton Ranch:

~ Fencing will now only be around RTR office; County will not let them put fencing along county access road.

~ Cattle guards have been eliminated

~ There will be a fence along Cinnibar Road to West end of RTR

~ Fence built on north side, south side fence under construction

~ Fencing should be complete 1st week of December

~ Hazing would take place where fencing will now be absent

Lawsuits:

~ DOL: No new action on Stockgrowers' lawsuit

~ NPS: Being sued. It's with Dept. of Justice. 60 days to respond. Likely NPS and GNF will not be able to speak so freely while suit is in progress.

U.S. Animal Health Association ~ 5 Resolutions

* can be found at usaha.org

1. I missed that one
2. Wildlife agencies in GYA are standardizing elk protocall

3. Suport creating of research facilities

4. Ask USDA to commit resources to swine brucellosis (brucella suis)

5. Removal of brucella abortus from (bio-terror) select agent list (a long shot)

Public Comments:

* A rancher from Paradise Valley

* Jim Bailey, GWA

* Glenn Hockett, GWA

* Stephany Seay, BFC

* Matt Skokland, NRDC

* County Commissioner, Paradise Valley

* Rancher, Paradise Valley

11/18/09 ~ ROUND TWO:

'09-'10 Operating Procedures Continued

~ Compromise on AMP changes: DOL wants 15 buffalo only, and only 2 "breaches" are allowed, after which management actions will be triggered.

~ Erickson and Lewis saw no difference then in keeping the number at the current 30, if dates remain same and DOL has authority to take management actions

~ DOL would like agencies to consider a population reduction/cap on Horse Butte (250 too many)

~ Dates bison would be allowed to be on South Side would remain the same as in 2008 AMP

~ DOL wants access to GNF lands that are closed to snowmobiles for management and monitoring.

~ Erickson said that they already have access for management. DOL said they want it for monitoring.

(Randy, GNF biologist feels very strongly that this is a BAD idea as he knows tourists will follow those tracks and he said he would recommend against it)

~ Erickson said that this would be a modification of their travel plan restrictions (the only good thing they've done)

~ Tierny, DOL said that if they can't use snowmobiles, they'll "have no choice" but to bring out the helicopter

~ Lewis agreed that it may be possible that allowing "unlimited" bison on Horse Butte is creating a "spillover" to the South Side

~ DOL wants to monitor and define population CAP on Horse Butte

** By the end of this discussion it appears (but was not clear) that they would continue to allow 30 buffalo on the Southside, dates would stay the same, but after two "breaches" management action would be taken. I asked them to clairify during my comment time, but the agencies will not answer questions from "the audience" as they call us.

DOL Contacting GNF for Authorization in Operations:

~ Erickson wanted to strike language in the AMP that said the DOL will "make a reasonable attempt to contact a rep from USFS to" and make it read: "the DOL will obtain authorization for the use of motorized vehicles on NF roads."

~ DOL moaned that they need to be able to do what they want, when they need to, especially at Duck Creek.

~ Tierny reminded Mary Erickson more than once that DOL "is a law enforcement agency" (IS THAT TRUE??)

~ Randy, GNF biologist said that there is always someone available for them to call and there's never been a problem in the past.

~ DOL (Shane Grube and Tierny) continued to complain and moan

~ Language will be reworked to satisfy both GNF & DOL

Brucellosis:

~ Brucellosis prevalance study was dropped from the agenda

~ Brief mention of Brucellosis Concept Paper (comments through 12/04)

~ Montana's Brucellosis Action Plan "sunsets" in January 11

~ National Brucellosis Zone being discussed/developed

~ There is a Comment Period Open for the Brucellosis Survelience Area through 12/16 (I have no info on this currently)

Quarantine:

~ Very brief report about agencies considering placement of bison. NO MENTION was made that they were recommending they go to Turner!!

Public Comments:

~ Rancher from Paradise Valley

~ Another Rancher from Paradise Valley (Ranchers complained that they had no representation at the table!!!)

~ Glen Hockett, GWA

~ Matt Skokland, NRDC

~ Mike Pearson, GYC

~ Stephany Seay, BFC

~ MIKE MEASE!!!! Had the last and most beautiful-to-the-point words. :)

*NEXT MEETING: April 18 & 19 @ FWP in Bozeman

NEWS ARTICLES & IBMP Press Release:

11/18

Bison get more tolerance in Montana, but fix elusive (B.S.)

KIVI-TV

http://www.kivitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11527558

11/17

Wind Cave NP bison arrive in Mexico

Rapid City Journal

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_6f09c994-d3a7-11de-aee3-001cc4c002e0.html

Elk to Blame for Past Decade of Brucellosis Infection

I was reading an article in the HelenaIR (Irresponsible Record), the most HIGHLY censored newspaper in MT. Once again the ranchers blame wildlife, namely elk, for all infections of brucellosis over the past decade. MT seems to conveniently & arrogantly forget that this disease originated in European cattle that were imported into the U.S. and then the disease was transmitted to the wildlife in Yellowstone. Today there are an estimated 2.6 MILLION cattle in MT. This is 2.5 times the state population!! Whereas there are close to 3,000 buffalo, 95,000 elk and 34 breeding pairs of wolves. These numbers are waaay too high for the ranchers who'd like to see them down to 0.

In 2007 there were 2 herds that became infected. This was NOT caused by wildlife as the HelenaIR wants you to believe. Both these herds were made up of Corriente cattle. This is a Mexican breed that is popular for rodeo roping events and are often imported from Texas.
According to Robert Hoskins, an independent Wyoming conservationist. "There is no scientific proof that elk were the cause of last year's brucellosis outbreak and good circumstantial evidence that the cause was imported Corriente cattle. A year after that incident, we still have no published epidemiological report from APHIS. Is that not suspicious?" (quote from a BFC press release, 2008)

Now that MT is brucellosis free again it can export its cattle. Blood testing will continue in the 7 Yellowstone area counties for 6 months.

The billion $ industry continues. All the while wildlife suffer.