Montana’s Governor Brags About His Bison-Killing Ways
Posted December 17, 2009 in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
If you’ve ever searched for an answer to the insanity that is bison management in Montana, you need look no further than a recent comment made by Montana’s Governor, Brian Schweitzer.
During a speech last week at the annual convention of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, a conservative livestock group, Schweitzer assured the Stockgrowers members “that he has pushed an agenda favorable to their industry.”
With the way bison have been hazed and slaughtered in Montana on his watch, his catering to the livestock industry was never in doubt. But the following bunker buster he tossed to the Stockgrowers certainly raised a few eyebrows:
"No governor in Montana history has sent more bison to slaughter than this governor."
Proudly boasting of your legacy as a bison killer? Seriously, Governor?
This is from the same guy that became a "star" last summer after giving a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. I wonder if he bragged about his proud bison-killing legacy to the national Democrats in attendance. The tragic irony is that while the Democrats were in Denver sneering at Sarah Palin’s fondness for shooting wolves from airplanes in Alaska, the Democrats’ star speaker had just presided over the slaughter of over 1,600 Yellowstone bison earlier in 2008.
It’s a shame Governor Schweitzer doesn’t recognize his good fortune.
The only continuously wild buffalo population that exists in the country resides in Yellowstone National Park. Some of those iconic, invaluable animals want to migrate into Montana in the winter and spring and bring their wildlife values -- ecological, cultural, economic, spiritual -- with them.
Instead of celebrating these bison and working to find ways for them to become a boon for Montana -- something he unequivocally has the power to do -- Governor Schweitzer brags about sending them to slaughter.
It is insane.
The largest land mammal in North America, ubiquitous symbol of the American West, the only continuously wild buffalo left in America, and the Governor of Montana brags about killing them.
If you’re outraged by his comments, please contact Governor Schweitzer and let him know:
Governor Brian D. Schweitzer, Office of the Governor, Montana State Capitol Building, P.O. Box 200801, Helena, MT 59620, (406) 444-3111
Click here to submit an electronic comment.
(Bison photo courtesy of Dana Leonard)
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Comments
Rob Perks — Dec 17 2009 08:26 PM
As a proud grad. school alum of the University of Montana, I'm appalled by the governor's outrageous comments. What next? Changing the state's nickname from "Land of the Big Sky" to "Land Where the Buffalo Die"? Goodbye "Big Sky Country", hello "Dead Bison Country." Shameful.
Keith Aucoin — Dec 18 2009 10:23 AM
Now living up in the Yukon I wasn't aware of the Governor's comments. Thanks for the informative read. I will be sure to contact him immediately to express my displeasure.