D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 1 9
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ANOTHER
OUTSTANDING MONTANA NONPROFIT.
B U F FA L O F I E L D C A M PA I G N
Every year millions of people from around the world
visit Yellowstone National Park with the hope of see-
ing wild bison. Just over a century ago, this remnant
population barely escaped extinction by seeking refuge
in Yellowstone's remote Pelican Valley. America's "great-
est conservation success story" however, has yet to come
true for the few bison that remain in the wild. Bison are
still threatened with extinction by the very people sworn
to protect them—Yellowstone National Park in defer-
ence to Montana's cattle lobby. While there are 500,000
"beefalo" in North America, only 11,000 to 13,000 re-
main wildlife, and just 4,500 reside in Yellowstone—the
last wild, migratory buffalo.
In the winter of 1996-97, the Montana Department
of Livestock (MTDOL) and Yellowstone National Park
slaughtered nearly 1,100 wild buffalo when they dared
to follow their migratory instincts beyond Yellowstone
into Montana. Government slaughter combined with
winter-kill wiped out two-thirds of the population.
In response to this senseless slaughter, Lakota activist
Rosalie Little under and videographer Mike Mease,
formed the Buffalo Field Campaign. BFC committed
to stand with the buffalo, document all actions made
against them, and share our footage with the world,
holding Yellowstone and the MTDOL accountable for
their actions. BFC runs daily field patrols, monitoring
the buffalos' migration, defending them on the land they
choose to be on. We remain the only organization on the
ground, advocating tirelessly on their behalf, representing
the buffalos' perspective, never compromising their right
to roam free. Additionally, we fight for the buffalo in the
political arenas and the courts, and are the world's leading
news source on this issue. We also provide a critical com-
munity service, acting as buffalo crossing guards, using
professional-grade equipment to warn motorists when
bison are on the road, saving countless lives. ese efforts
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
office@buffalofieldcampaign.org
media@buffalofieldcampaign.org
www.BuffaloFieldCampaign.org
www.Facebook.com/buffalowild
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INCE APRIL OF 1997, BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN has been standing in defense of the country's last wild
buffalo: the Yellowstone herds. BFC's mission is to "stop the harassment and slaughter of Yellowstone's wild buf-
falo, protect the natural habitat of wild, free-roaming buffalo and other native wildlife, and work with all people—
especially Indigenous Nations—to honor and protect the sacredness of wild buffalo." We envision a world in which
buffalo are allowed to exist as they choose, naturally restoring themselves throughout their native range.
MONTANA'S BISON DEFENDERS
photos by STEPHANIE SEAY
Yellowstone Buffalo Hunt:
A Native Perspective
www.distinctlymontana.com/buffalo192
DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL
