Josh Mogerman's Blog
Can you scapegoat a bison?
July 10, 2008
Posted by Josh Mogerman in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
Sadly, outbreaks of the cattle disease brucellosis have popped up in Montana and Wyoming recently. Though there has never been a documented case of the disease being transmitted from buffalo to cattle in the wild---and the geography of the outbreak meant that the buffalo could not have been involved in these outbreaks either---some saw an opening to advance their anti-wildlife agendas.
In response to the disease outbreaks, the California-based Cattlemen's Association said that the federal government should reduce elk and bison populations in Yellowstone National Park to keep the animals separated from domestic livestock. This is after Montana and federal wildlife officials have already reduced the numbers of America’s last wild buffalo by more than half through a winter campaign of senseless slaughter.
The herds were needlessly reduced by over 1,600 animals in the name of protecting cattle…even in places, like the Horse Butte peninsula, where no conflict or disease transmission was even possible.
How many buffalo would the cattlemen like to see in the park? I shudder to think of what their answer would be…
As we have stated in this blog repeatedly, and petitioned the federal officials on multiple occasions, it is time to revisit the rules used to manage the America’s last free-ranging buffalo herds in and around Yellowstone. It is time to address the cattle and wildlife conflict---to find a way to bring together all the concerned parties to address their issues in a reasonable and democratic fashion. It is time for the adults to sit down to the table…
…my guess is that the Cattlemen’s Association won’t choose to attend…
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- Josh Mogerman
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