1. The notorious interim bison plan is still in effect which requires the capture of bison at the Park boundary, testing from brucellosis, and killing of those bison that test positive for exposure to brucellosis and maybe, like last year, of "negative" bison. There are indications that Montana will be less aggressive in killing bison this winter as Montana Governor Racicot has displeased American public opinion. Federal government officials have also moderated a bit. Bison will be allowed to migrate to Eagle Creek just north of the Park on the Gallatin National Forest and toward Horse Butte west of West Yellowstone if they test "negative." Park Bison Management Aimed at Killing Fewer Animals. Post Register (11-12-97).

2. APHIS has moved against the six NW Wyoming counties, and is now requiring expensive testing and quarantine of their cattle before shipment, this despite no cases of brucellosis transfer to cattle and widespread voluntary brucellosis immunization by stockgrowers. In essence, APHIS has punished the more wildlife friendly and cooperative attitude of Wyoming stockgrowers and rewarded the hostile Montana stockgrowers and governor.

3. The new bison plan that will replace the interim plan is now scheduled for release for public review in late December. This is after three delays. The new plan has been condemned by many scientists and conservation organizations although it is probably an improvement over the interim plan. Conceivably the new plan could be ready by the winter of 1998-9.

4. The high mortality of bison last winter was due to a harsh winter that drove bison from Yellowstone toward low elevation winter range and Governor Racicot's livestock gunners. It is uncertain what this winter's powerful El Nino will bring, but most El Nino winters in the northern Rockies are warmer than usual and dry -- potentially good news. As the abnormally warm Pacific Ocean water piles up against the western Coast of the U.S., the southern jet stream is strengthened and powerful, wet winter storms plow through California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. The polar jet stream weakens, however, and a large storm-blocking high pressure areas sets up in the Pacific northwest. So far late fall storms are missing Yellowstone and as of last weekend, when I visited, there was very little snow except at high elevations.

5. Wyoming is having a bison hunt in an attempt to keep bison numbers in Jackson Hole down to 250 animals. While animal rights groups hate all hunting, this hunt is not nearly as controversial as Montana slaughter because, first, it is a hunt. Second, the number of animals to be killed is not open-ended as it was, and is, in Montana. Third, Wyoming officials are not lying about the hunt's purpose. It is to keep the number of bison within range capacity. They don't speak about the [false] threat of brucellosis. Finally, the Jackson Hole area is not being managed for natural regulation of wildlife, nor has it been, nor can it be, due to the large human population in the southern end of Jackson Hole. The National Elk Refuge and the feeding of elk in the winter has taken place in Jackson Hole since the 1920's.

6. The Church Universal and Triumphant which owns most of the potential bison migration paths north of Yellowstone wants to sell this land. If acquired, there would be no "private property" argument about bison and elk migrating to their historic winter range north of Yellowstone. This is not a done deal, however. There appears to be dissention within the Church. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation would buy much of the land, but eventually it would have to be sold to the U.S government. I have heard the Governor Racicot is opposing this sale behind the scenes despite the fact that it would save the bison and greatly reduce public controversy (maybe this tells us something about his hidden agenda).

7. The National Parks and Conservation Association has a "Bison Belong" campaign which has lined up hundreds of Montana businesses in support of bison. This gives the visitor a chance to reward wildlife-friendly businesses, and I think it will have a much more positive effect than the ineffective and I think, counterproductive, boycott of Montana proposed by some groups.

8. Buffalo Nations has recruited a number of people to harass bison away from gunners and bison traps and to help remove bison from private property so that property owners have an option other than calling Governor Racicot's gunners at the Montana Department of Livestock.

by Ralph Maughan. Nov. 12, 1997