Yellowstone buffalo herd down to less than half from 1 yr ago

[eppur_se_muova]

Where the buffalo roam -- and die

GARDINER, Montana (CNN) -- More than half of Yellowstone National Park's bison herd has died since last fall, forcing the government to suspend its annual slaughter program.

More than 700 of the iconic animals starved or otherwise died on the mountainsides during an unusually harsh winter, and more than 1,600 were shot by hunters or sent to slaughterhouses in a disease-control effort, according to National Park Service figures.

As a result, the park estimates its bison herd has dropped from 4,700 in November to about 2,300 today, prompting the government to halt the culling program early.

"There has never been a slaughter like this of the bison since the 1800s in this country, and it's disgusting," said Mike Mease of the Buffalo Field Campaign, a group seeking to stop the slaughter program for good.

Government officials say the slaughter prevents the spread of the disease brucellosis from the Yellowstone bison to cattle on land near the park. Brucellosis can cause miscarriages, infertility and reduced milk production in domestic cattle.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/26/bison.slaughter/index.html

There's one paragraph that's particularly interesting -- it starts with the phrase "Bottom line is, there's too many of them..." and doesn't specify what "them" refers to. If "them" is cattle, the argument holds up just as well as if "them" is buffalo.

[liberal N proud]

1. Another national treasure decimated at the hand of those put in power

by the bu$h regime.

:mad:

[lligrd]

2. In My Opinion, The Them Is The Idiots With Guns Who

think it is just fine to shoot such a magnificent animal.