Bison in trouble

Only 200 years ago, about 40 million bison existed in North America, but by 1889, only 1,091 bison, wild and captive, remained in North America. And now, the U.S. government, working with some states and private groups, such as the Montana Cattlemen’s Association, is working to destroy the remaining wild bison population.

On May 2, a baby bison was born and hazed for three days until it died. This hazing was authorized by the Montana Department of Livestock and the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department.

Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk has also authorized the hazing and trapping of bison. Recently, Mr. Wenk promised to release the bison that have been held prisoner in Stephens Creek and Corwin Springs, but without public notice or input, has consigned 53 of America’s last wild bison to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for a population control experiment. USDA APHIS plans to use wild bison to experiment with GonaCon, a chemical immunocontraceptive vaccine, under the highly controversial Interagency Bison Management Plan.

Please ask your congressperson to stop the trapping, killing and experimenting on wild bison.

Cheryl Mitchell

Spokane