Bison Chashed By Helicopters
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Mighty Magnificent Bison
This hub today is mainly video driven. I have selected videos to show what is happening with our wildlife today due to man's continued, relentless views that wildlife and humans can not co-exist.
The news that caught my attention recently was about a wounded bison calf. As a herd of bison were being forced off land not even being used by cattle, a calf was trampled due to panic within the group, as a helicopter swooped overhead. The bison had roamed just outside the boundaries of Yellowstone Park and were on calving grounds. Despite a sign designating that the land the bison were traveling on was allowed, the helicopter continued its pursuit, while mounted state and federal agents waited on the ground to help facilitate the move.
While one calf among many is not in itself cause for alarm, the fact that aerial pursuit and gunning still continues to this day is appalling. In Alaska right now, aerial gunning is in full swing. The target, wolves.The victims, adults and pups. There is even speculation that gassing and poisons will be used soon in order to rid the land of these predators. Once poisons are distributed, more than wolves will die. Any animal coming in contact with the substance will be harmed.
Wolves, as I have written about before, are subject to onslaughts continually. They are blamed for many things, and our extermination efforts towards these fine creatures is exhaustive. They are pursued and criminalized routinely, even though the accusations against them far outweigh the facts of their actions
Many efforts have been made over the years to replenish the wolf and bison populations in this country. But current administrative decisions could quickly dampen the impressive results these animals have made towards recovery. By recently de-listing wolves of endangered species status, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar may very well be bringing these animals straight back into the threatened category they struggled so hard to rise out of.
Today, I will let the videos speak for themselves. The organizations that work tirelessly towards protecting these animals have made these videos possible. I wish to thank them for bringing these subject to light.
Calf Wounded By Helicopters
The beauty and wilds of this great country are quickly vanishing. Pollution, human expansion and global warming are just some of the reasons. Man's wish to rid the world of predators is short sighted. Without balance our world will fail. Yes, humans are top predators, but does that give us the right to exterminate others who share our qualities and our planet?
My Earlier Article on Wolves
- U.S. Wolves on Extermination List
My article about wolves and the current administration's decision to de-list.
It seems unreal, but it's not. Hunters perched on the ledge of a hovering plane or helicopter taking pot-shots at animals just trying to live their lives. How is this sportsmanlike? How is this humane?
Bison Link of Interest
- The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of the American Bis...
The American bison, Bison bison, is descended from a species of Eurasian steepe bison, Bison priscus, that crossed the land bridge into America about 300,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age. Bison priscus...
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Comments
Thanks for linking to my hub!
The treatment of the Yellowstone bison is appalling. These are among the last wild bison in North America - they should be a national treasure! Yet instead we're harrassing and murdering them because of a bunch of stupid cows that have never even been proven to catch brucellosis from bison. I think they should forbid running cattle on the federal lands surrounding the park anyway - if the local ranchers would switch to running bison there instead, that would go a long way towards solving both their bison "problem" and their wolf problem.
You've probably heard of these folks, but just in case you haven't, go check out: http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/
what a sad video - one very patient mama bison until she loses her cool - but that poor broken legged little calf being harrassed so badly with her escape odds from predators now so low, you wonder whether she will manage to survive & grow to adulthood - thanks for sharing... what has happened to live and let live - greed I guess!
You are right ajcor, the hunting lobbyists have a lot of influence in this country. They have a lot of money and a lot of pull when it comes to getting their way. Thanks for commenting. I too wish the wolves could run the hunters until they drop, then it would be fair.
Thanks kerryg for passing along the site from the buffalo field campaign. It is heartwrenching to watch what man does to other living creatures.
That's a good idea about forbidding running cattle along the park's boundaries. Thanks for sharing.
Cindy I cannot bear to watch them its bad enoug hreading about it. I thought yellowstone was well managed and protected, I really did not think they would let that sort of thing happen. As for my pack freinds ..no my heartt is too open just now. I am so sick, sick , sick, of the destruction and killing of our wild world. I cant imagine nor understand why someone would enjoy this , like the battering a baby seal to death. Its a sickness, a deep sickness of the soul. we have moved so far from Nature it worries me that we will never find our way back. If indeed we deserve to be back. Thank you for coming to my blog i will see if I can fan you here, it all bells and whistles I have to learn. LOL
Thanks wild writings. It is awfully hard to watch some of these things. I have trouble too. The problem with our park management is that they seem to think the animals roaming inside the park knos where the park grounds end. I guess they think the animals are psychic. Once the animals cross the invisible fence, they deem them an issue....need I say more.
Again, I enjoy your blog. Keep writing. Compliments can be hard to accept, but in your case they are deserving.
ajcor says:
8 months ago
great hub and brilliant videos Cindy L - what a beautiful country Alaska is and the wolves are so intelligent and badly used by the hunters - I saw where the ban for aerial hunting comes in at the will of the people and then after two years it is trumped by - I am assuming here - the hunting lobby - this is really appalling - I can't believe it! - cannot the rest of America step in and step up to stop this senseless grim and cruel slaughter. And the hunting prowess of these hunters must be minimal if they are not tackling their sport on the ground - I wonder how they would like it if they were forced to run until they dropped from exhaustion and then shot and left to die in such grim circumstances.... and to hunt the wolves when the they can't even hide - is this really a sport??? I think not! thank you for bringing this out into the open....and what sort of governors do they have in Alaska? I wonder if they witnessed this first hand would they actually condone it as a form number elimination....thanks for this insightful hub...cheers