They were hunted by the Indians, nearly brought to extinction by the early 20th century, and now after a short period of prosperity (the European species is still on the endangered species list) it seems that the American bison is again becoming the victim of senseless slaughtering. Dropping from an estimated population of 50 million to just under 4,000 the Montana Department Of Livestock now considers the animal a major nuisance and possible source of a deadly disease. A dangerous strain of brucellosis has been sweeping across cattle ranches all across the western portion of the U.S causing stillbirths and other complications in cattle.
Just last week 7 cows were killed after testing positive for the disease. What’s this got to do with the bison roaming free in and around Yellowstone? Some say nothing at all. As of yet a link between bison infected with brucellosis and the cattle that were slaughtered has been discovered. Not only that but it’s hard to imagine that such a connection even exists since bison and cattle have zero contact with each other. Still the recent outbreak has cattle ranchers calling for the immediate reduction in the bison population not only in Montana, but also inside Yellowstone where they are supposed to be protected from hunters. Beginning this week the state of Montana says that is will begin killing over 300 American Bison that have wondered off Yellowstone National Park.
Montana is not the only state that is systematically attempting to wipe out the American bison. Wyoming is currently debating a proposal that would allow hunters to thin a bison heard living in the state’s National Elk Refuge due to fears of overgrazing and the spread of the brucellosis disease (again no connection between bison with bucellosis and cattle has been established).
The major group on the front lines trying to save the animals headed for the slaughterhouse is called “Buffalo Field Campaign“. A member of this organization attempting to stop the killings told reporters ”Governor Schweitzer campaigned on promises of providing greater tolerance for bison in Montana,” said Dan Brister of the wild bison advocacy group Buffalo Field Campaign, “yet he bends to the irrational will of the Stockgrowers whenever they demand more dead bison. Since Governor Schweitzer has been in office, 1,177 Yellowstone bison have been killed.”
Here is a video sponsored by the Buffalo Field Campaign:
With numbers dwindling to around 1,000 some conservationalists are wondering if the bison will ever make a comeback. For more on this issue and the what you can do about it visit the Buffalo Field Campaign website.
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