Starving Bison

[ohmt]

This was in our paper today:

NEWS ARTICLE

It's about 6,000 bison that were found starving and impounded.

It sounds as if this has happened more than once and there have been NO CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED!!! AGHHHHH!!!!

It does say 'yet', so hopefully charges will be filed soon.

I just don't understand sometimes.

They better not let this person have the bison back again. I'm not sure what they'll do with them. Wish we had the room-I know my grandma would take them in a heartbeat! I'm guessing it's going to be pretty hard to find homes for 6000 bison though.

 

[Riverrose28]

I hadn't heard about that one, but a couple of days ago I heard on the news that some of the bison in Montana were going to be destroyed because they are leaving their designated areas and looking for forage in places where they are not supposed to graze, and the authorities, i'm assuming BLM is concered about a desease that they can spread to the cattle grazing on public land. They said that they have been testing the animals and will destroy the ones that are positive.

 

[Miniv]

Sounds like the authorities are at least handling the situation.......Notice the article refers to "bison and other animals"?

Keep us posted.

 

[Katiean]

I hadn't heard about that one, but a couple of days ago I heard on the news that some of the bison in Montana were going to be destroyed because they are leaving their designated areas and looking for forage in places where they are not supposed to graze, and the authorities, i'm assuming BLM is concerned about a desease that they can spread to the cattle grazing on public land. They said that they have been testing the animals and will destroy the ones that are positive.

What I want to know is why if only 3% of our beef comes from beef that is grazed on public land, what gives those individuals the right to put their beef cattle on public land besides the BLM saying so. We are having a problem here with the BLM and wild horses. They say the horses are not true wild animals and they are drinking the water for wild animals. But what they are not saying is that the cattle grazing on public lands are also drinking that water. Cattle, while I would not try to put one of them on a lead rope are NOT true wild animals. What gives the cattle the right to use the wild resources?

 

[HGFarm]

By 'true' wild animals, they are refering to animals like deer, elk, bear, etc..... horses do not fall into that category. They have been domesticated for a loooooong time. No cattle are not wild either, but ranchers buy grazing rights in their effort to earn a living for themselves. The cattle have a purpose, whether the meat is eaten in the country it's raised in or exported. Horses running loose dont really have a purpose in my opinion- (sorry and I am sure I will be flamed for that, so putting on my asbestos suit) Horses dont really have much in the way of natural predators either, so have a tendancy to overpopulate in some areas.

Back to the OP, that is pretty sad- bison are NOT easy to handle and require certain facilities to keep them in (or out) of an area- they are not like cattle at all. I hope some of the better ones will go to someone who raises bison and will take care of them.... They are good to eat so I hope they arent just destroyed for nothing. What a waste! WHY weren't they taken to market, or something before they got into that condition and this isnt the first time this guy has been in trouble for the SAME THING!!! I hope they press charges and make this guy GET OUT of there. I am sure the land has been so overgrazed by now too it will take years and years for it to come back like it should be... I agree...

 

[Eohippus]

By 'true' wild animals, they are refering to animals like deer, elk, bear, etc..... horses do not fall into that category. They have been domesticated for a loooooong time. No cattle are not wild either, but ranchers buy grazing rights in their effort to earn a living for themselves. The cattle have a purpose, whether the meat is eaten in the country it's raised in or exported. Horses running loose dont really have a purpose in my opinion- (sorry and I am sure I will be flamed for that, so putting on my asbestos suit) Horses dont really have much in the way of natural predators either, so have a tendancy to overpopulate in some areas.

Back to the OP, that is pretty sad- bison are NOT easy to handle and require certain facilities to keep them in (or out) of an area- they are not like cattle at all. I hope some of the better ones will go to someone who raises bison and will take care of them.... They are good to eat so I hope they arent just destroyed for nothing. What a waste! WHY weren't they taken to market, or something before they got into that condition and this isnt the first time this guy has been in trouble for the SAME THING!!! I hope they press charges and make this guy GET OUT of there. I am sure the land has been so overgrazed by now too it will take years and years for it to come back like it should be... I agree...

BLM is money based so you're very correct in the mustangs vs cattle logic. But there's so many sides, angles, and approaches to that mess that I really don't want to touch it! Though I do love my 'stangs more than any other breed of biggie. They're just the best trail horses with the most level headed mind. I love it. I wish there was a better compremise for the mustangs and cattle. I know they're experimenting with birth control for the mares, which would be a great solution (provides they administer it to the not so nice conformation mares!)

Buuuut back to the bison.. Game ranches will probably take in the bulk of the better ones and let hunters hunt them. I know in Az BLM doesn't like wild bison at all and unless they're in their "specified" area they want hunters to shoot them. Seems so silly since the bison don't understand they have to stay within certain unmarked boundaries!

 

[Jean_B]

I think the headline says it all - "Florida man who owns ranch on Dakotas border in trouble again"

An absentee landlord who could care less because he doesn't have to witness the devestation he created. There is a place in H--- for people like that.

 

[Sue_C.]

There is a place in H--- for people like that.

I certainly like to think that.