Urge Governor Schweitzer to Veto Bad Buffalo Bills

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has vowed to veto legislation that would harm America's last wild buffalo. Hold him to his promise.

Legislation that would damage the wild integrity of America's last wild buffalo has been transmitted to Governor Schweitzer for final approval or rejection. Governor Schweitzer has publically stated that they will be vetoed. He has already rejected two harmful bills - HB 318 and SB 237 - for which he deserves our thanks.

Two other harmful bills - SB 174 and SB 212 - came to Schweitzer's desk but he regjected them as they were presented and returned them to the Legislature, with proposed amendments. While the amendments to SB 174 aren't a problem, those he made to SB 212 keep intact harmful provisions that would treat wild buffalo like livestock. Schweitzer's amendments would also give Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks "shoot on sight" authority, which is unacceptable.

Learn more about these harmful bills here.

TAKE ACTION! Editing the sample letter below, in your own words please thank Governor Schweitzer for rejecting these bills, and urge him to veto SB 212, which aims to treat wild bison like livestock. Remind Governor Schweitzer that the tragedy currently befalling America's last wild buffalo in Montana is an issue of national significance and an attack on our natural heritage. It is important that you let Governor Schweitzer know why Montana's wild lands and wildlife are important to you, and remind him that tourism brings $3 billion to Montana's economy every year, with wildlife viewing alone bringing in nearly $100 million dollars!

* Alternatively, if you wish to contact Governor Schweitzer directly, he can be reached by phone at 406-444-3111, or email at governor@mt.gov. Letters may also be sent by postal mail to Governor Brian D. Schweitzer, Office of the Governor, Montana State Capitol Building, P.O. Box 200801, Helena, MT 59620-0801. Please cc BFC-media[at]wildrockies[dot]org on any correspondence with the Governor.

Subject:

Your Letter:

Thank you for vetoing HB 318 and SB 237.  I really appreciate that you kept your word to reject these bills and keep them from becoming law in Montana.

Please stay the course!  I know you have sent SB 174 back to the Legislature with some acceptable changes.  However, the amendments you have made to SB 212 keep intact harmful provisions.  Wild bison should not be treated or handled like livestock - they are a native wildlife species critical to the ecological health of Montana's grasslands and prairie ecosystems and they should be respectfully managed as such.  I also oppose allowing Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to have "shoot on sight" authority.

I strongly oppose SB 212 in its original form, and I oppose your proposed amendments to it.   This bill must be rejected in its entirety.  Please veto SB 212.

As you stated in the media, "[American bison] are a native species, for God's sake ... nothing can be more Montana than buffalo."  It is also true that the tragedy currently befalling America's last wild buffalo in Montana is an issue of national significance and an attack on the natural heritage of all Americans.

Montana's economy enjoys $3 BILLION annually from tourism, while the National Park gateway communities - Gardiner and West Yellowstone in particular - are visited by over 3.6 MILLION people each year!  These folks list wild buffalo as one of the top animals they want to see.  It's also important to consider that wildlife viewing in Montana contributes nearly $100,000,000 in revenues, and if there were wild buffalo roaming year-round in Montana, that would only increase.  Wild buffalo are GOOD for Montana's ecology and economy.

In Montana, and across the United States, people want American buffalo roaming free.  Montana stands in a unique position to become the only state in the U.S. that could boast a wild, free-roaming population of American buffalo!  That is powerful, and something Montana could be very proud of.

Please hold to your promise to reject state legislation that will harm wild buffalo.  SB 212 must be rejected.  Thank you so much for the right action you have taken so far.  Please prevent SB 212 from becoming law as well.

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer

Governor of Montana
Office of the Governor, Montana State Capitol Building
P.O. Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-0801
US