By Dan Brister
Buffalo Field Campaign -
[email protected]
www.wildrockies.org/buffalo
Yesterday I woke at 4am with the rest of the morning
patrols. We ate our breakfast of home-fries in the cabin's main room as
we slowly made our transitions from the world of dreams to the waking
world. Out the door by five, the various patrols climbed into our
vehicles and drove to strategic locations along the West side of the
park: Duck Creek, Fur Ridge, Cougar Creek, the Madison River, and Horse
Butte. The positions of these patrols are determined by the presence of
buffalo and whether or not Department of Livestock (DOL) agents are in
town.
Yesterday we knew a mixed herd of eight bison had come
out the day before and we knew the DOL was here. My patrol partner and I
climbed into the back of the Toyota pickup with two other volunteers and
headed for Horse Butte. Our job was to ski along the Madison between the
Butte and the highway and locate the small herd of buffalo. Because the
previous day's patrols had seen the DOL come into town and because they
were unable to capture any buffalo during our week of action (we had
more than 70 volunteers) we knew they would try to capture the herd.
We skied along the bluffs, overlooking the Madison Arm
of Hebgen Lake and the ever-widening pond of open water. We counted more
than 80 trumpeter swans floating on the water and observed great blue
herons and a young bald eagle.
After skiing nearly five miles we found the buffalo--two
pregnant females and five yearling calves. Two of the calves had shaved
swaths on their shoulders and hindquarters and wore yellow tags that the
DOL attached when they were captured on February 24. They had been part
of a different herd that migrated out in late February and were promptly
captured. Orphaned after their mothers were sent to slaughter they went
back to the park where they were adopted by a different herd.
We found them on a steep hillside, grazing on the newly
exposed grass. Over our two-way fm radio we learned from the other
patrols that the DOL was out and about on their snowmobiles, locating
buffalo and making sure we didn't try to shepherd them back to the park.
We dug a small shelter in a snowbank to shield us from the strong wind
and waited, watching the beautiful buffalo. As I watched them graze I
was saddened, knowing their hours of freedom and--for some--life were
numbered.
Shortly after ten am a swarm of eleven snowmobiles
arrived, and DOL agents began shouting orders at Park Service rangers
and Montana game wardens. The swarm converged on the buffalo and
cracker-rounds--loud explosives fired from shotguns--shattered the
peace. I stood in a snag and videotaped as the frightened buffalo took
off running.
The agents chased them fast and we followed the
operation on our skis, not quite able to keep up. Cracker-bursts let me
know I wasn't far behind. I skied along the snowmobile trail, looking
down at the bison's tracks. For four of the buffalo, these would be the
last tracks of their lives. I reached the Horse Butte trap five minutes
after they had been confined. Occasional clangs of horn against the
trap's cold steel panels were the only indication of the eight bison in
the trap.
The two pregnant mothers were slaughtered today along
with two of the calves. Four of the calves, including the two orphaned
in February, were released without mothers.
At 12:30 we were relieved by afternoon patrols and
climbed back into the truck for the ride home. As we neared Duck Creek
we saw the armada of snowmobiles on the side of the highway. They had
been joined by ATVs. We pulled over, climbed out, and confronted the
agents. "Do you enjoy killing pregnant mothers?" someone asked. Someone
else asked why they killed bulls when scientists acknowledge that they
pose no risk to cattle. Another asked whether there had ever been a case
of transmission from wild bison to cattle (there hasn't). They ignored
the questions, talking instead about college sports.
After a few minutes a large bull emerged from the woods,
being chased by several agents on snowmobiles. The ATVs then chased him
north on the road, toward the Duck Creek trap. The bull nearly outran
them, cantering down the road, then jumped off and hid on some private
property. The agents, usually vocal proponents of private property
rights, didn't flinch as they passed the signs reading "Buffalo Safe
Zone: No Shooting or Harassing Bison Permitted by Order of the
Landowner."
They continued to chase him and he ran back out onto the
highway, back in the direction from which he had come. After several
near misses with pursuing ATVs, the bull darted off the road and plunged
through the deep snow along Cougar Creek and toward the park. Because of
the thick willows along the creek, the agents on snowmobiles were unable
to pursue him. After watching the capture of the eight bison in the
morning, we were uplifted by the bull's escape.
Spring is a difficult time for the buffalo and hundreds
are expected to leave the park in the coming weeks. We need volunteers
to help us protect the buffalo and document the actions taken against
them. If you've been wanting to help, now is the time. Volunteers are
provided with room and board in exchange for help with patrols. We'll be
very busy between now and mid-May and welcome any help you can give.
Thanks for being such dedicated supporters.
With the Buffalo,
Dan Brister
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