Confusion Concerning Facts Surrounding The Killing Of Bull Buffalo In Idaho…

UPDATE: July 28, 2012

This is most recent statement posted on the Buffalo Field Campaign’s website concerning the killing of the Yellowstone bull buffalo.

“This morning a bull buffalo that had migrated from the Yellowstone region into Island Park, Idaho was shot and killed. BFC patrols responded to the scene only to learn that the bull had been killed moments before we arrived by an Idaho Department of Agriculture official and the Fremont County sheriff’s office. The Nature Conservancy, who owns a ranch and grazes cattle in the area where the buffalo was killed–and at least one other resident–contacted the State of Idaho to notify them of the bull’s presence. According to what BFC learned, the Fremont County sheriff said they called Montana and Yellowstone National Park, neither of whom wanted the bull buffalo returned. The sheriff further claimed that the bull was a “danger” to campers in Idaho and posed a brucellosis “threat” to cattle, neither of which is true. Buffalo are gentle giants and have very clear ways of communicating, making it extremely easy to co-exist with them. Further, no wild buffalo has ever transmitted brucellosis back to the cattle they got it from, and it is basically impossible for a bull bison to transmit brucellosis. Idaho demonstrated this by leaving his guts and reproductive organs in the field after they killed him. BFC patrols responded that wild elk – who also carry brucellosis – roam freely throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the sheriff’s response was that elk “bring in revenue.”

This bull buffalo was a perfect example of natural restoration that wild buffalo will undertake if humans will only learn to relax their coveted control over all things wild and free, learn to co-exist, and welcome the rightful roamers of North America back on their native habitat.”

http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/update1112/072612.html

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UPDATE: July 27, 2012

On July 26 I posted information about a bull buffalo, who migrated from the Yellowstone area to a Nature Conservancy Ranch in Idaho. The buffalo was shot and killed. This information came directly from the Buffalo Field Campaign.  They stated:

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Update from the Field: Idaho Stops Wild Bison Dead in His Tracks

“This morning a bull buffalo that had migrated from the Yellowstone region onto the Nature Conservancy-owned Flat Ranch was shot and killed. The Nature Conservancy, who grazes cattle on their ranch, acted in gross contradiction to their name and purpose by calling authorities to request that the bull be removed. BFC patrols responded to the scene only to learn that the bull had been killed moments before we arrived by a USDA official and the Fremont County sheriff’s office.

According to what BFC learned, the Fremont County sheriff said they called Montana and Yellowstone National Park, neither of whom wanted the bull buffalo returned. The sheriff further claimed that the bull was a “danger” to campers in Idaho and posed a brucellosis “threat” to cattle, neither of which is true. Buffalo are gentle giants and have very clear ways of communicating, making it extremely easy to co-exist with them. Further, no wild buffalo has ever transmitted brucellosis back to the cattle they got it from, and it is basically impossible for a bull bison to transmit brucellosis. Idaho demonstrated this by leaving his guts and reproductive organs in the field after they killed him. BFC patrols responded that wild elk – who also carry brucellosis – roam freely throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the sheriff’s response was that elk “bring in revenue.”

This bull buffalo was a perfect example of natural restoration that wild buffalo will undertake if humans will only learn to relax their coveted control over all things wild and free, learn to co-exist, and welcome the rightful roamers of North America back on their native habitat. Instead of conserving nature as their name implies, The Nature Conservancy is shamefully responsible for ending the life of the only wild bison in the state of Idaho.

The Nature Conservancy is shamefully responsible for ending the life of the only wild bison in the state of Idaho. While Idaho would likely have taken lethal action anyway, The Nature Conservancy should have stood their ground in defense of wildlife, especially an ecologically extinct species. 

Please hold The Nature Conservancy accountable for this unforgivable and incongruent action.

You can call Ruth Harbaum of The Nature Conservancy’s Flat Ranch, who made the call that killed the bull, at 208-558-7629, and let her know how disappointed you are by her and her organization’s actions. You may want to also contact the Idaho and National offices of The Nature Conservancy.”

http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/update1112/072612.html

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Today The Wildlife News posted a retraction of their reporting of the story and the Nature Conservancy’s version of what happened. Here’s the link.

Nature Conservancy Statement Regarding Bison Killing in Idaho

http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2012/07/27/nature-conservancy-statement-regarding-bison-killing-in-idaho/

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There is no further information about this situation on the Buffalo Field Campaign’s website that I could find. In light of that, I decided to remove my post.

I will update you if new facts or clarifications come to light concerning this incident. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Posted in: Bison

Tags: Yellowstone bison shot and killed, Idaho, Buffalo Field Campaign, Nature Conservancy