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Activists Ask Governor to Call Off Bison Hunt in Montana
15 November 2005
by Anai Rhoads Ford
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AnaiRhoads.org - Hunters will
begin stalking and killing bison again in Yellowstone National Park,
Montana today after nearly 15 years. Montana had terminated the
practice in 1991 in response to national and international outrage.
The hunt of nearly 5,000 bisons will begin along the park’s northern
boundary near Gardiner and by the western boundary near West
Yellowstone.
A total of 50 permits have been issued, which include 10 from last
year’s cancelled hunt. Over 6,000 applications were submitted for
licenses.
The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Commission approved two seasons.
The first begins on 15 November 2005 and ends on 15 January 2006. The
second will begin on 16 January 2006 up until 15 February 2006.
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) and
several other animal rights organisations submitted a letter to
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer on Monday, hoping to halt the hunt.
"By reinitiating a hunt of Yellowstone's bison, the State of Montana is
thumbing its nose that the hundreds of thousands of citizens who have
demanded greater protection, not persecution, of Yellowstone's bison,"
said BFC director and co-founder Mike Mease.
The groups report that the hunt is not authorised under the state's
current bison management plan and violates standards imposed for the
management of big game animals in Montana.
"Shooting Yellowstone's bison is as sporting or challenging as shooting
a parked car, a couch or a cow," said AWI Wildlife Biologist D.J.
Schubert. "Montana has failed to heed the lessons of history by
allowing this hunt, and we are confident Americans will respond with
disgust, revulsion and ridicule upon learning that the state plans to
resume the recreational killing of these majestic animals."
Activists are asking Governor Schweitzer to take immediate action to
terminate today's hunt. In addition, they seek to work with federal
agencies to develop an ethical and scientifically sound bison
management plan.
Contact Governor Schweitzer
Phone: (406) 444-3111
Fax: (406) 444-5529
http://governor.mt.g
ov/contact/comments.asp
State Capitol
P.O. Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-0801
©2005 Anai Rhoads Ford. Reproduction must be authorised in writing
by author only. Altering, redistributing, or selling this material is
strictly prohibited.
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