Guest Column by Stephany J. Seay - Buffalo Field Campaign

In this little corner of Montana, wild buffalo are attempting to naturally restore themselves, which should be cause for enormous celebration.

Yet Montana's livestock industry still dominates the scene, exerting "zero tolerance" on any buffalo that migrate across Park borders, purportedly based on the theory that wild bison "threaten" cattle with brucellosis. Theoretically, you could be struck by lightening walking out your front door, but you don't lock yourself in your house because of it. Buffalo are not the only wildlife cattle infected with brucellosis, but they are the only animals confined to Yellowstone. Consequently, wild buffalo remain ecologically extinct everywhere outside of Yellowstone National Park. It's wrong.

Let's get it out of the way: Brucellosis is a fraud.

The cattle industry's propaganda machine spits out fear and lies, attempting make people believe that wild buffalo pose a "health risk" to cattle and even humans. Brucellosis came from cattle, and in the century wild buffalo have carried it there has never been one proven instance of bison-to-livestock transmission.

But here we are with livestock interests calling the shots and robbing the land and people of the presence of wild buffalo based not on science but on prejudice. It's greed, ignorance, and brutality backed by the government's willingness to perpetuate wildlife mismanagement schemes built upon lies. The livestock industry dictates the life and death of the last continuously wild buffalo population in the United States.

The aggressive nature of bison hazing is shameful, unnecessary, and doesn't work. Buffalo migrate; that's their nature. The cowboy mentality that runs pregnant buffalo and newborn calves for miles off of public land - regardless of the fact that there are never cattle on those lands - is an atrocity with no foundation on true science or respect for the wild. The notion that invasive cattle are more important than the last wild buffalo is ridiculous, yet this attitude is running the show.

Tourists aren't stopping along the roadside to take pictures of cattle - they are awestruck by wild buffalo.

The community sees what's wrong with this management scheme, yet we need to speak up. Silence allows the DOL to continue terrorizing the ecosystem and native buffalo will continue to be tormented and killed. Silence makes us responsible. If we are silent, our civil liberties will be violated as we exercise our rights to document government actions on public lands, while violence from law enforcement becomes commonplace. If we are silent, tourists are going to go elsewhere, where they can relax without helicopters and horsemen chasing buffalo through their campgrounds.

Governor Schweitzer has failed to keep his promise to provide greater tolerance for wild buffalo. In the first two years of his leadership more buffalo were killed than in the previous seven years combined. His administration shrugs its shoulders at the DOL, submitting to this rogue agency that has no apparent checks or balances to keep it in line.

The community is tired of the DOL's power trip. Speak up! Congress is paying close attention. There's an investigation of the entire IBMP underway. Contact Governor Schweitzer, and Senators Tester and Baucus. Contact the papers. And make a statement on your property: call BFC for a Buffalo Safe Zone sign (646-0070).

The buffalo belong here. This is their native homeland. We are lucky to live with them and we have a lot to learn from these gentle giants. Buffalo are prehistoric wonders who represent strong family and the wild, free spirit of the land. The cattle industry represents sickness, dominance and greed. Which will we defend?

Editors note: We would welcome responses to this column from individuals on the other side of this issue.

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