Comment from Warneka, Ann
Ann WarnekaSupportIndividual
Summary: The commenter, identifying as a regular supporter of the Buffalo Field Campaign, argues that the Yellowstone bison and all American bison herds should be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. They cite several factors for this listing, including habitat loss to cattle and development, human-caused mortality on highways, and management practices that impair natural migration and adaptation.
I would like to cite the following documented criteria which support listing of the Yellowstone bison herds and all American Bison Herds as endangered, supporting their listing as an Endangered Species under the Endangered Species Act:<br/>Like the American Eagle, the Bison is a symbol of freedom in America. We desperately need to protect our wildlife. Please listen to the stories connected with protecting the american bison. As a regular supporter of the Buffalo Field Campaign, Do the right thing and increase protections for the American Bison under the Endangered Species Act. <br/>Loss of habitat and home range to cattle.<br/>Loss of long distance migration corridors to human developments. Dangerous crossing of highways and roads, causing death to the american bison and negatively impacting the ecology based on the improvements bison create when roaming and sustaining the herd. <br/>Loss of connectivity to habitat impairing bison’s ability to migrate in response to natural or human-made disturbances.<br/>Exclusionary management boundaries preventing bison’s natural migrations on public lands.<br/>The State of Montana’s intolerance for wild bison in the state.<br/>Yellowstone National Park’s trapping bison for slaughter operations - ongoing since 1996 and the single largest source of mortality.<br/>The U.S. Forest Service’s land management plan excluding bison from substantial portions of the migratory species’ National Forest range and habitat.<br/>Management actions leading to the domestication of the wild species such as trapping, quarantining, vaccinating, birth control experiments, etc.<br/>Management actions impairing bison’s ability to naturally adapt and evolve in the Yellowstone ecosystem.<br/>Montana Dept. of Livestock authority over wild bison migrating into the state (MCA § 81-2-120).<br/>The lack of State and federal measures for conserving Yellowstone bison in the wild.<br/>Rapidly rising temperatures threaten bison’s ability to adapt to increased heat stress.<br/>Less nutritious grasses resulting from climate change.<br/>