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Re: Comments solicited on Yellowstone Bison Slaughter/Important!!!!

The advantages of Brucellosis-Free status are economic.
The animals do not need to be tested on a regular basis,
nor do you need to do the calf-hood vaccination. A good deal
of money is saved per head plus all the stress of handling
the animals. 

> I think that Austin Moseley makes very good points concerning the
> Yellowstone bison situation. It seems to me there is quite enough
> antagonism between the agriculture / livestock community and natural
> area advocates, which the Avery/Stone approaches might only
> exacerbate.
> 
> One thing I don't understand -- Why aren't certified brucellosis-free
> cattle also  vaccinated, to remove altogether the
> likelihood of transmission of brucellosis to them?


The only reason I have bison and am active in promoting natives
is because I think they are the only viable *economic* 
solution to making a living from the land and I think its
more important to "do" than to give money to causes. 

"Environmental" has so many meanings these days, and 
the user of this term varies in both sophistication, 
sensitivity to all living things, and level of knowledge, 
that its really meaningless. Just as no native grass
enthusiast would stop a National Grassland park, but would
stop it if they planned to plant Fescue or Caucasian Bluestem,
so must any issue be approached by those with the most
on-the-ground experience and knowledge. 

The question will soon be how to keep other bison out of 
Yellowstone. The bison will come back and will 
overspread the plains, and within 
our lifetime. The numbers double every 4.3 years and
at a current census of 300,000 - by 2040 there will be
30-40 million. I intend to be alive to see it.

I agree with Richard Manning that bison are a manifestation 
of place and that place is the native ranges of the Great
Plains. Unless that place is readied for the bison 
wherever they are, then people will try to make them 
into cattle. They do not know better.

The current confinement-grain complex is a system.
It must be replaced by a better system. Unless
there is an alternative, bison will be assmiliated
into that system. 

I do not know what is going on in your areas with regards
to natives, but these 40 acre plantings are no longer
enough. We need to look at wholesale landscape size
restorations in all states. I am talking about 
thousands of acres a year and then hundreds of thousands
of acres. 

I push natives every chance I get. I was wondering if
any one else here can start going before farmers and
ranchers and showing slides of their prairies and
whoop up the general public. Work with the NRCS
and Ag agents. Speak at Farm Bureau dinners. 

THIS is where native plant societies can have
a tremendous impact. You have the practical
knowledge and seasoned experience to hold
peoples' hands the first (depressing) year.
Then cheer them on later.

We have a tremendous opportunity to take
advantage of here as bison return. Its a 
second chance to come to peace with 
the plains. We are all in this together - 
rancher, plowman, yuppie, and prairie
enthusiast - and we need to work together
to make things SO much better than they are. 
It pains me greatly to see two fine groups
of people who so dearly love the land - 
the farmer and the ecologists - going at
it. 

-Austin Moseley


Austin Moseley, Texas Bison Co, Caddo Mills, TX  903.527.2325
Vice-President, Northern Region, Texas Bison Association
Amoseley@csac.com 800.225.6204x245
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