George Ochenski tells how ranchers move the goal posts on Yellowstone bison issue- Perhaps a hundred stories since we first wrote about the issues of the Yellowstone’s bison’s genetic purity, the seemingly pointless slaughter of Park bison that leave the Park, and many other issues, very slow progress has been made. Bison perhaps can now…
This week Western Watersheds Project and Buffalo Field Campaign filed to intervene in the lawsuit brought by Park County and the Park County Stockgrowers Association which oppose the state plan which would allow bison to use the Gardiner Basin south of Yankee Jim Canyon for part of the winter without being constantly hazed, captured, and…
Here is a news release from the Buffalo Field Campaign. Don’t know if the bison were exactly stolen, but there was no public comment when it looks like they should have had one, and whole idea of birth control for bison or any wildlife is controversial. Ralph Maughan THREATENED WITH POPULATION CONTROL USDA-APHIS Intends to…
Montana Bison ‘managers’ kill calf north of West Yellowstone- Bison are now allowed to leave the Park to the west in the winter at Horse Butte, but they are supposed to be back in the Park at an abnormally early time. This year the Park is still under snow. The brutal Montana Department of Livestock…
Some good news at a time of general craziness- A “Bison conservation area” will be established in the Gardiner Basin, and for the first time it looks like migrating bison that cross the Yellowstone Park boundary on the north end will be allowed to roam rather than be shot or trucked off to slaughter. Although…
Guest editorial by Dr. Brian L. Horejsi- Bison Abuse Merits Harsh Criticism Harsh criticism is increasingly justified in todays world of National Park and public land management, a world in which regulatory retreat from principles and regulation is the new norm and “gut and grab” politics seem to be an every day threat. One such…
Government slaughter could irreparably harm bison species. Recently I referenced unpublished data indicating that bison suffer from compromised mitochondrial DNA which could be exacerbated by government slaughter without any examination as to how it will affect the already genetically compromised herd. That information has now been released. Historically, bison have gone through what is known…
Good news is hard to come by in this issue. Here is today’s Buffalo Field Campaign weekly update. Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group working in the field and in the policy arena to protect America’s last wild buffalo. Buffalo Field Campaign Yellowstone Bison Update from the Field January 27, 2011 —————————— —————————— * ACTION…
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.