Awesome management

[JLS]

All in the name of "brucellosis management".

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/02/12/2823977/yellowstone-bison-slaughter-begins.html


Yellowstone bison slaughter begins

By MATTHEW BROWN

Associated PressFebruary 12, 2014 Updated 17 hours ago

BILLINGS, Mont. — Yellowstone National Park transferred 20 bison to a Montana Indian tribe for slaughter on Wednesday, marking the first such action this winter under a plan to drastically reduce the size of the largest genetically pure bison population in the U.S.

The transfer was first disclosed by the Buffalo Field Campaign, a wildlife advocacy group, and confirmed by park officials.

Five more bison that had been captured were to be turned over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday for use in an experimental animal contraception program, said park spokesman Al Nash.

Yellowstone administrators plan to slaughter up to 600 bison this winter if harsh weather conditions inside the 2.2-million-acre park spur a large migration of the animals to lower elevations in Montana. It's part of a multiyear plan to reduce the population from an estimated 4,600 animals to about 3,000, under an agreement between federal and state officials signed in 2000.

Tens of millions of bison once roamed the North American Plains before overhunting drove them to near extinction by the early 1900s. Yellowstone is one of the few places where they survive in the wild.

James Holt, a member of Idaho's Nez Perce tribe and board member for the Buffalo Field Campaign, said the park's population target was an arbitrary number that threatens to infringe on treaty hunting rights held by his and other tribes. Members of those tribes travel hundreds of miles every winter for the chance to harvest bison.

Holt said many tribes have a sacred, spiritual connection with the animals because American Indians historically depended on them for food and clothing.

"We're talking about the last free-roaming herd here," he said. "It does them a disservice and is a disrespect to them that they are being treated in this manner."

But Montana's livestock industry has little tolerance for bison because of concerns over disease and competition with cattle for grass.

Steps taken by former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer to give bison more room to roam outside the park have yielded mixed results, with ranchers and local officials pushing back.

The last major bison slaughter occurred in the winter of 2008, when 1,600 were killed. Schweitzer later placed a temporary moratorium on the practice that has since expired.

The latest group of bison destined for slaughter was transferred to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes.

Nash said hundreds more bison remain clustered near the park's northern boundary, where the 25 animals were captured Friday after they wandered into a holding facility. That sets the stage for potentially more shipments to slaughter in coming days and weeks if more bison start to move into Montana.

"We're set up and ready to go should we see bison come down in significant numbers," Nash said

Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/02/12/2823977/yellowstone-bison-slaughter-begins.html#storylink=cpy

[kentrek]

Hmmm....so all tribal hunting, loss of hunting opportunity for folks on the list issues aside...they dont want the bison to leave the park Why did wolves get such a special treatment compared to the bison ?? Maybe I read this wrong

[JLS]

Hmmm....so all tribal hunting, loss of hunting opportunity for folks on the list issues aside...they dont want the bison to leave the park Why did wolves get such a special treatment compared to the bison ?? Maybe I read this wrong

Because bison are managed by the MT Dept of Livestock.

[Rainier10]

My guess is if they lower the Yellowstone bison herd by 1600 animals to 3000 the wolves are going to need something else to eat like those Montana cattle and then hopefully they will start worrying about the wolves even more.

[JLS]

My guess is if they lower the Yellowstone bison herd by 1600 animals to 3000 the wolves are going to need something else to eat like those Montana cattle and then hopefully they will start worrying about the wolves even more.

It really has nothing to do with wolves. 

Edit:  I forgot to add the mandatory  when mentioning the "W" word.  Here you go Bobcat.

 

[Rainier10]

You don't think wolves eat bison?  You don't think lower the number of bison in the park by 35% is going to affect wolves?

[JLS]

You don't think wolves eat bison?  You don't think lower the number of bison in the park by 35% is going to affect wolves?

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/newshound/2014/01/report-yellowstone-wolf-populations-declines-predators-target-bison

I don't think it will have a significant effect, no.

[Rainier10]

You don't think wolves eat bison?  You don't think lower the number of bison in the park by 35% is going to affect wolves?

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/newshound/2014/01/report-yellowstone-wolf-populations-declines-predators-target-bison

I don't think it will have a significant effect, no.

Okay, but as I read that article it says as the number of elk in the park decreased and the wolf population in the park decreased this last year the amount of bison the wolves ate increased and was the highest percentage of bison ever taken.  So I am seeing the wolves depending more on the bison for a  food source as elk numbers decrease and now you are going to decrease the wolves new food source by 35%.  That seems to me if they are relying on bison more for food and you are decreasing the availability of that food it is going to affect the wolves.  And my guess is if when the elk numbers decreased the wolves ate more bison one could logically conclude that when the bison numbers decrease the wolves are going to eat something else....cattle.

Just my 

[carlyoungs]

It's pretty funny the guys name is Bolt and they are sending them to the Indians.  Its spelled different but it's still a Bolt decision.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I think the OP was about MANAGEMENT 
One thing they figured out with the Wolves, they impacted the Elk population.
The reduces browsing/grazing along the waterways caused the vegetation to flourish, creating more available food for other ungulates, increasing birthrates, feeding predators...
Now they have an over population of Buffalo ??
Free range, actual WILD Buffalo ??
Seems to me, the outfitters that are loosing out on Elk hunts, should be offering some Buffalo hunts 
Only thing I would rather get would be a Moose..., or maybe a Sheep....

[JLS]

I think the OP was about MANAGEMENT 
One thing they figured out with the Wolves, they impacted the Elk population.
The reduces browsing/grazing along the waterways caused the vegetation to flourish, creating more available food for other ungulates, increasing birthrates, feeding predators...
Now they have an over population of Buffalo ??
Free range, actual WILD Buffalo ??
Seems to me, the outfitters that are loosing out on Elk hunts, should be offering some Buffalo hunts 
Only thing I would rather get would be a Moose..., or maybe a Sheep....

Except the state of Montana recognizes them as less important than a Black Angus.  It's sad and pathetic.

The reason I said this has nothing to do with wolves is as follows.  Bison have grown in numbers with wolves.  Bison still have no recognition in Montana as having any sporting or cultural significance.  Even if wolves turn to cattle for food, they will be shot by Wildlife Services, so how does that create any leverage to maintain higher numbers of bison?  It doesn't. 

It might affect wolves, it might not.  I don't care.  I care that bison get so little recognition and respect as a game animal.

Edit:  Sorry Bobcat, missed it again.....

 

[Rainier10]

Except the state of Montana recognizes them as less important than a Black Angus.  It's sad and pathetic.

  I care that bison get so little recognition and respect as a game animal.

Edit:  Sorry Bobcat, missed it again.....

 

This I will certainly agree with and wish there were more bison.  I love the effort that goes into restoring elk to there original range and wish that more effort would have been put into restoring bison numbers.  I understand the cattle conflict but wish there was a solution.  You know what the say about wish in one and blank in the other?

Anyways we can definitely agree that bison should be a higher priority game animal than they are.

[villageidiot]

I support Montana.  I eat black angus and I like it a lot. I do not eat wolves or buffalo.  Wolf meat stinks and is tough to chew.  Bison is also tough but edible IF THERE IS NO BLACK ANGUS AVAILABLE.

[bearpaw]

As much as I would like to see more wild bison, brucellosis is a very serious concern and I understand Montana protecting their livestock industry. Australia has the same problem with wild water buffalo carrying diseases that have cost their livestock industry millions.

Hopefully a solution to the brucellosis in the buffalo can be found so that it becomes a non-issue. I think if we want to help get more buffalo we should push for a solution to the brucellosis problem in the buffalo rather than expect Montana Ranchers to ultimately suffer incredible financial losses. 

[kentrek]

It might affect wolves, it might not.  I don't care.  I care that bison get so little recognition and respect as a game animal.

  cant agree more....it shouldn't matter how they taste (even tho they taste amazing)
Why or how management puts more effort into one animal than another doesn't seem rite