AR-News: PROPOSAL TO EXPAND MONTANA'S BUFFALO KILLING

[jim robertson]

PROPOSAL TO EXPAND MONTANA'S BUFFALO KILLING:
In a recently released Environmental Assessment (EA), the Montana Department 
of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) is proposing to reinstate public sport 
hunting of buffalo in Montana, just outside of Yellowstone National Park.  
The FWP’s proposed hunt would allow up to 25 hunters to take aim at any 
buffalo stepping outside of the Park’s western and northern boundaries.

The last buffalo hunt in Montana more than a decade ago was widely viewed as 
inhumane and was decried as unfair—-by hunters and non-hunters 
alike—-largely because Yellowstone’s buffalo are accustomed to people and 
are not likely to run when approached by a hunter.  One legislator even 
referred to hunting buffalo as akin to "shooting a couch" because it is so 
unchallenging.  This hunt (to be conducted under the authority of Montana’s 
Department of Livestock) would be held in addition to the annual slaughter 
of Yellowstone bison by state and federal agencies. But unlike that ongoing 
slaughter, which is billed as an effort to reduce the threat of brucellosis 
transmission from bison to domestic cattle,  the FWP admits this proposed 
hunt is a purely recreational "sport hunt."

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The FWP is accepting public comments on the proposed hunt through July 9th.  
Please tell the FWP that a buffalo hunt is not warranted, that the bison are 
a national treasure and that a hunt will serve only to hurt Montana’s image 
and damage its tourism industry. Send your letter to:


Bison Hunt
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
1400 S. 19th Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59718
Email:  bisonhuntcomment at montana.edu


For more info on the current management of Yellowstone’s buffalo, see: 
http://www.hsus.org/ace/19953.  For a copy of the EA, go to:  
http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/publicnotices/show.aspx?id=605


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPEAK OUT AGAINST CRUEL GOOSE BEHEADING:
On June 24, the Associated Press reported that the upscale, gated community 
of Lake Mohawk in Malvern, Ohio was planning to round up and decapitate 
resident Canada geese, based on a permit granted them by the Ohio Department 
of Natural Resources (DNR). The plan was hatched because some neighborhood 
residents feel that the geese are a "nuisance."

On Wednesday (6/30), The HSUS received confirmation that the round up had 
begun. Because the geese were molting and unable to fly away, they had no 
chance at escape. Ten goslings were captured and relocated, and nine adult 
geese were captured and beheaded.  The goslings are likely to have a 
difficult time surviving now that their parents have been killed. As 
gruesome as this plan sounds, it is even more troubling because it promises 
to be ineffective. The empty niche left after the geese are killed will 
likely soon be filled in by replacement geese, because lakes and 
well-groomed lawns are attractive habitats for wild geese. Only by adopting 
an integrated program of humane techniques such as changing landscaping, 
scaring geese away, and addling or oiling eggs so fewer goslings hatch will 
any permanent solution be found.  Many communities across the nation have 
found humane management techniques far more effective.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Ask Ohio Governor Bob Taft to put a stop to the Ohio DNR's cruel lethal 
Canada goose "control" programs. Ask him to stop the DNR from issuing 
permits, at least until all non-lethal alternatives have been used.


Governor Bob Taft
30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6117
Phone 614-466-3555
send an email through: http://governor.ohio.gov/contactinfopage.asp