Buffalo Are Spared From Slaughter

Dear Buffalo Friends,

We have great news to report: YOU STOPPED THE PLANNED SLAUGHTER OF THE BUFFALO!!!!

On Friday afternoon (June 3), Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone National Park held a joint press conference in Helena, Montana, to announce that they WILL NOT SLAUGHTER any wild buffalo that remain in Montana come Monday! All those buffalo babies, their moms, and their families will live on!

This is a major victory for wild buffalo and their advocates worldwide! THANK YOU!

While the larger issue is far from being resolved, we should all take a deep breath and give thanks for this incredible news that we all helped make happen. The power, prayers, energy, spirit, love, and ACTION of all the people who care about the buffalo made this happen!

The word from Montana and Yellowstone is this: any wild buffalo found in Montana come Monday would be transported (captured and hauled in trailers) into Yellowstone National Park. They would be taken north, to Stephens Creek, and let go. This transport could be very hard on the buffalo, especially the small calves, so we are hopeful that it will not have to occur at all.

The long-term solution for wild buffalo is year-round HABITAT!

Yesterday approximately 200 buffalo were forcefully pushed out of Montana (off of our National Forest lands), back into Yellowstone National Park. The agents used horsemen and a helicopter to conduct this operation. Today, the same thing happened, with about 50 buffalo (moms, babies, families) being pushed off of Horse Butte, deep into Yellowstone. Sadly, the buffalo were pushed extremely hard - especially by the helicopter - and they were shot with orange paint balls by the agents on horseback. It almost looked like a re-enactment from the shameful buffalo hunts of the 1800s.

During today's operation, a baby buffalo collapsed from exhaustion and possible injury. BFC patrols stayed with this little calf and its mom until they were able to be strong enough to resume their trek to catch up with their family members who had been chased out of Montana. They made it!

This great victory is not without its shadow, as wild buffalo should be allowed to roam freely in Montana, especially on our public lands.

We will keep fighting for the buffalo until they are wild and free.

But we will celebrate that these buffalo will not be sent to slaughter and that is because you made it happen! Thank you all so much! You flooded them with calls, emails, faxes and IT WORKED! The governor and Yellowstone made the right decision.

ACTION NEEDED: Please take the time to call and say THANK YOU to Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis for choosing to let these buffalo live. Encourage them to work to acquire year-round habitat for wild buffalo in Montana!

* Governor Brian Schweitzer: 406-444-3111

* Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis: 307-344-2002

From the bottom of our hearts and for all the wild buffalo ~ THANK YOU!!

LET THE BUFFALO ROAM!

~Buffalo Field Campaign