No Buffalo Hunt Anymore in Montana!

yell_superintendent(at)nps.gov, suzanne_lewis(at)nps.gov, livemail(at)state.mt.us, mailroom_r1_gallatin(at)fs.fed.us, NPS_Director(at)nps.gov, fwpbison(at)state.mt.us, fwpwld(at)mt.gov, wycc(at)wyellowstone.com, betsy(at)visit.com, Fran_Mainella(at)nps.gov, Director_Mainella(at)ios.doi.gov, loran_fraser(at)nps.gov, BrianSchweitzer(at)mt.gov 


TO:
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
Yellowstone National Park, Superintendent Suzanne Lewis
National Park Service, Director Fran Maniella
Montana Department of Livestock, Director Marc Bridges
Gallatin National Forest, Supervisor Rebecca Heath
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce
Montana Promotion Division


Dear Governor Brian Schweitzer, Suzanne Lewis, Fran Maniella:

I write to respectfully request the prompt suspension of Montana's 2005 buffalo hunt. The estimated 50 million buffalo who once ranged public lands have dwindled to less than 5,000.

The reprised slaughter of these grand animals is a political gift to Montana's influential cattle industry. Their fate should not rest with Montana's Department of Livestock (DOL), an agency that favors
eradication.

In 1998, 13 million U.S. taxpayer dollars financed the purchase of conservation easements to give migratory species, including wild bison, access to critical habitat along their migration corridor. But rather than classify buffalo as a recovered resident native wildlife species, they are tracked and killed.

Buffalo need access to adequate range in Montana, to establish resident herds. Yet Montana affords no immunity to buffalo. As of December 12, the 2005 hunt claimed 18 wild bull bison. Over the last decade Montana and the federal government have destroyed 2,475 wild Yellowstone bison, more than half of the animals in the present herd. This is a national disgrace.

Montana's DOL alleges buffalo transmit the brucellosis infection to grazing cattle. To date, there is no recorded case of wild bison spreading brucellosis to livestock, due in part to the fact that cattle are not present when bison migrate to their native winter range. Moreover, most area cattle are vaccinated against brucellosis. The 15 bulls already killed this year could not have infected cattle with the bacteria.

I am equally ashamed of the National Park Service (NPS). On December 10 in Gardiner, NPS employees drove about 70 wild buffalo back into Yellowstone. Two days later, another NPS hazing operation obstructed the natural migration of approximately 15 more wild bison. The NPS appears to be herding buffalo into the path of hunters. Why would an agency entrusted to safeguard public lands and wildlife facilitate the destruction of the last wild buffalo in America?

I will not support tourism in your state until officials protect wild buffalo and terminate all hunts. DOL agents ought to inspect livestock--not determine wildlife policy. I implore state and federal agencies to stop wasting tax dollars on the harassment and slaughter of Yellowstone bison.

With kind regards,