Dear Supporter,

As 2006 comes to a close, and Yellowstone National Park becomes a glittering wonderland, draped in crystalline snow and sparkling ice, we are thankful for all support you have provided this year. You make our successes possible.

	Domestic sheep diseases are being spread to wild bighorns in western Wyoming, causing populations to plummet. GYC is helping with the buy-out of domestic sheep grazing allotments on public land.
	Support Greater Yellowstone Coalition, so that we may work to protect the wild bighorn sheep.

Though we are grateful, there is much to be done in 2007. We are lucky to announce that Earth Friends Wildlife Foundation has given us a challenge grant, which will match your year-end gift, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000!

Three key species in Greater Yellowstone are facing specific challenges in 2007.

Bighorn sheep: Once one of the most abundant hoofed mammals in the ecosystem, bighorns have greatly diminished in numbers due to diseases and habitat loss, and are now greatly imperiled.

Bison: Last winter, nearly 900 bison were sent to slaughter after roaming out of the park in search of food. Bison must be allowed adequate habitat and must be managed as wildlife by the professionals at Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks and not as livestock.

Elk: Feed ground elk are now suffering from diseases, as well as deteriorating habitat conditions associated with crowded “feedlot” conditions. Elk in North America are no longer endangered, and we believe it’s time to carefully phase-out the disease-ridden feed grounds in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Help us save our wildlife from diseases, habitat loss, and mismanagement! Please make a lasting difference with a generous gift today! Remember when you make your year-end gift to GYC—Earth Friends will match your gift, dollar for dollar! Your gift will be twice as effective! Sincerely, Michael Scott GYC Executive Director

Read it online! GYC's Winter 2006 Newsletter is available now.

Greater Yellowstone Coalition is working hard to ensure that bison are respected as wildlife and that they have adequate habitat by:

• Securing additional land outside the park for bison to use when they migrate to lower elevations in winter in search of suitable food.
• Advocating for a strong bison management plan that is based on the population of the herd and the amount of habitat available to them.
• Assuring the separation of bison and cattle by not allowing them to graze in the same place at the same time, therefore avoiding the spread of brucellosis.

Greater Yellowstone Coalition is committed to protecting the health of Yellowstone’s elk by:

• Convincing the federal land managers to analyze the effects of crowding elk onto small parcels during winter and artificially feeding them.
• Asking federal agencies to analyze phasing-out feed grounds and protecting needed habitat for wild elk, while still protecting nearby ranchers and the hunting industry.
• Weighing in on the environmental impact statement for the National Elk Refuge, offering strong support for the Fish and Wildlife Service to carefully phase-out feeding elk and to restore winter ranges and migrations for elk. Break the cycle of disease in our elk, and keep our wildlife wild!

Greater Yellowstone Coalition will help bighorn sheep by:

• Helping with the buy-outs of privately held domestic sheep grazing areas on National Forest lands in western Wyoming in order to ensure separation of domestic sheep and wild bighorns to prevent disease transmission.
• Working to prevent additional loss of bighorn habitat due to oil and gas development throughout western Wyoming, and we are pressuring the federal land managers to appropriately manage motorized recreation near bighorn habitat to minimize disturbance.
• Encouraging the land managers to restore the role of natural fire to maintain and restore open landscapes for bighorn habitat.

Together we can work to protect a secure future for all these magnificent animals. Please be generous and give a gift that will make a lasting difference!

Contact Us:
gyc@greateryellowstone.org
Greater Yellowstone Coalition Membership
P.O. Box 1874
Bozeman, MT 59771

(406) 586-1593

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