Capture, Slaughter of Yellowstone Bison Roils Big Sky Country

[Bon]

Capture, Slaughter of Yellowstone Bison Roils Big Sky Country

by MIKE BRUNKER and JOHN O'CONNOR

 

The American bison is one of the nation's most enduring symbols, a heritage that helps explain the outcry that erupts like Old Faithful each year over the selective slaughter of hundreds of the wild-and-woolly creatures when they attempt to leave Yellowstone National Park.

"The first time I saw a buffalo I cried," said Stephany Seay of the nonprofit Buffalo Field Campaign, which has been fighting the culling and slaughter of the Yellowstone bison for 19 years. "... They're hugely charismatic. I sometimes compare it to seeing a unicorn. You never get used to it."

Bisons roam on the road near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Jim Peaco / Yellowstone National Park

The bison

[Petee]

This country will never return to it's native state which would be before humans ever set foot in it.  Humans certainly aren't going to leave but we are commanded to care for the animals around us.  Common sense and a sense of "harvesting' has to be made a precedent if the animals are to survive well. 

[Bon]

When we were out there in 2013, I asked the rangers when were they going to send us some bison being we have their elk. She knew where we were from immediately.