One of my keepsakes from life in Idaho is a color photo I took of a grizzly old bull bison grazing on native bunch grass near Glens Ferry, a small town along the Snake River between Boise and Twin Falls. To this day, I remain entranced by this native species. It was heartening to read this Associated Press article (carried by the Journal Star of Lincoln, Neb.).
A holistic approach to managing federal herds — in effect making them one dispersed herd — makes good sense. And one objective of managing the 10 or so herds as one is to preserve — to the max extent possible — the genetic purity of the herd.
The manner in which the Yellowstone bison herd is managed remains troubling. An overriding objective of this new federal bison management strategy should be the establishment of a truly wild, free-roaming herd — one that’s as free of heavy-handed management as possible.
For more information, photos, and powerful video footage on this mismanagement of America’s only continusously wild bison herd, visit:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
Thanks, Montana Dan, for the link. I’ll check it out. There’s a lively discussion on this topic taking place over at Ralph Maughan’s blog.