Yellowstone Country Guardians Field Journal

Bison and Bigotry

We are excited to share that we have been flooded with emails and support in response to a recent Op-Ed written by YCG founder, Michael Leach, in response to the plight of the bison.  “Bison and Bigotry” is a fresh look at what is perhaps North America’s biggest wildlife controversy and is Michael’s attempt to reframe the debate in hopes of inspiring greater tolerance for a magnificent beast.

As a former interpretive ranger for  seven years in Yellowstone, current wildlife guide, director and founder of Yellowstone Country Guardians and above all else, a resident of Gardiner—the epicenter for the bison’s annual march to death—Michael has pretty much lived and breathed this issue each winter.  His personal, up-close observations has led him to believe this is as much a cultural issue as it is political—and we all know it’s more political than science-based.   

In ”Bison and Bigotry” , Michael compares the current state of bison management to the civil rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s, and makes the argument that at some point there is no sense arguing biology, science and statistics, when hate and fear of an animal fuel the management actions and policies. 

We have been very encouraged by the positive buzz surrounding this piece since being published as a feature last week on New West.net and hope that it helps to create a more constructive dialogue that will lead us into a more progressive 21^st century in regards to the management of the elephant of North America. 

To read Michael’s piece titled, “Is Gardiner, Montana, the Selma, Alabama, of conservation?” visit NewWest.net or click this link…

For the Bison! 

 

 

 

 

300 Wild Yellowstone Bison Awaiting Fate

Early this week over 300 wild, native, Yellowstone bison were hazed and captured by members of the IBMP (a failing cooperative mismanaging our wild bison in Montana) for following their natural instinct of migrating to winter range in the midst of a harsh Yellowstone winter.  They are being held at the Stephens Creek Capture facility within Yellowstone National Park as part of the Interagency Bison Management Plan which was created in 2000 to help Montana maintain its brucellosis free status. 

The plan has failed on many fronts, most disheartening of all the agencies involved have failed the bison they are entrusted with managing.  It is long-overdue that the Park Service pulls out of this agreement which continues to waste its valuable resources and time.  When a marriage isn't working you get a divorce, and it is time for the Park Service to divorce its IBMP partners who clearly have very different agendas and beliefs regarding our treasured Yellowstone bison.

To read more about the 300 bison captured click on the link below:

300 Yellowstone Bison Captured 

Area Ranchers Support Wild Bison In Montana

Area ranchers get it and are willing to live with bison.  Why then can't the government agencies representing the IBMP begin acting rationally and practice greater tolerance for an animal that symbolizes the wildness and ruggedness that Montana is supposed to represent?

To read this Bozeman Chronicle article click on the link below:

Area Ranchers Weigh In On Yellowstone Bison

Winter Doldrums

It has been far too long since I last posted an essay or entry on our Field Journal, so I will give you a little update.  While summer is the time of non-stop action, YCG programming, wildlife and fly fishing guiding, speaking gigs and wedding to officiate (there is more than one reason they call me the Rev), winter is supposed to be a down time for those of us living in Yellowstone Country. 

But this winter perhaps more than any other since taking on the role as Head Boys' Basketball coach here at Gardiner High four years ago has been full of action.  Besides the long hours spent practice planning, watching film, game planning and countless hours spent riding buses across SW Montana, this year has been full of other interesting surprises.  When I took the job four years back I was jokingly told that I was the "New Mayor" in town as boys' basketball is the winter lifeblood of the Gardiner community.  Never before have I experienced a job that is such a lightning-bolt for praise and criticism which makes every week a rollercoaster made even more thrilling by working with the unpredictable nature of teenage boys. 

With all of that said, I have never in my 30 years walking this earth experienced greater joy, love and sense of accomplishment as I have working on behalf of my boys with their unwavering support and conviction along with the gratitude of so many parents.  I have felt since beginning my basketball coaching career and starting YCG that the two realms dovetail beautifully together.  While we strive to win every game and out-execute other teams with x's and o's and defensive disruption, the ultimate goal of our basketball program has been helping the boys we work with to become passionate young men and contributing members of their community. 

So while basketball often takes me away from YCG programming during the winter months, I always feel connected to YCG's mission while working with youth on any level because in the end, the work we do with our players enhances their lives and thus strengthens our community who holds Yellowstone Country in their hands. 

While I have reduced the number of presentations given this winter, the groups I have had the opportunity to speak with have been lively and have responded very powerfully to the YCG mission and my reasoning for why now is the time for a bold, new environmental paradigm. 

Instead, this winter I have focused heavily on the 2011 slate of YCG programs while trying to take time to write as often as possible.  So while I have not posted essays since the closing of the fishing season in the park, I have actively been working to finish my first book of essays which I am hopeful I will wrap up in the coming months.  I also have been working on a few articles for regional publications that I will look forward to sharing as they come out.

Lastly, it has been another emotional winter for us here in Gardiner with the continued mismanagement of Yellowstone's bison.  I have been working on a piece about the bison issue and the recent failure of a management action that I am very excited about and has been very positively received thus far, that we will post on the blog after we pitch it to several national publications.

The Yellowstone bison are a national treasure that continues to be managed with fear and hate instead of science and biology.  This remains a tremendous black eye for the state of Montana; one that I am convinced will be looked at with disdain by future generations.  

I look forward to sharing with you all my recent essay and evaluation of the current state of the Yellowstone bison and hope in the meantime that you will all continue to fight for common-sense solutions.  Future generations will look at how we respond to this challenge and whether we truly acted as guardians of our beloved Yellowstone. 

With Nothin' But Love,

Michael "Coach" Leach, Founder and Director