Save Yellowstone Bison from Senseless Slaughter
16,702 signatures toward our 30,000 Goal
Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
Indiscriminate killing is putting the Yellowstone bison herd and people at risk. Take action for these animals and call for a ban on dangerous bison hunts!
Yellowstone National Park has sanctioned the hunting of its bison herd, and more than 1,530 bison have been culled, including pregnant females1.
Some 60% of the herd is infected with brucellosis, which can be transmitted to cattle and cause them to abort their calves2. But this has generated criticism, especially as the bison are being hunted indiscriminately outside the park3. Witness reports have called the area where the bison are hunted, “The Killing Fields,” due to the brutality of the hunt. Baby bison are shot grazing next to their mothers, and pregnant cows are killed, leaving their fetuses to rot in the field along with other detritus4.
Yellowstone's bison herd is not only an iconic symbol of the American West, but for many Native American tribes, these animals are a sacred part of their culture and spiritual beliefs. The hunting of bison has been an integral part of the indigenous culture for thousands of years, viewed as a way of connecting with the natural world and honoring the sacred relationship between humans and the environment5.
The indiscriminate killing of bison that occurs outside of Yellowstone Park is not reflective of these traditional practices. Those bison are largely not being hunted for cultural or spiritual reasons, but for commercial purposes or to prevent bison from encroaching on private land6. This is a threat to the cultural heritage and traditional practices of indigenous tribes and undermines the conservation efforts of Yellowstone Park, putting the long-term survival of the bison at risk7.
You can make a difference today by joining the movement to protect Yellowstone's iconic bison herd. Sign the petition to urge the National Park Service to protect the bison and to work with indigenous tribes to find solutions that honor their cultural heritage and the bison's long-term survival. We must ensure that the indiscriminate killing of these majestic animals ends, and their traditional cultural significance is respected.
The Yellowstone bison are not only a symbol of strength, resilience, and freedom but a vital part of the ecosystem8. These massive, shaggy animals have roamed the park's vast landscapes for generations, inspiring awe and admiration in visitors from all over the world.
By signing the petition today, you can help protect this incredible species for future generations to come. Join us in standing up for the Yellowstone bison and help us to ensure that they are respected and protected.
- Jim Robbins, The New York Times (4 April 2023), "Mass Yellowstone Hunt Kills 1,150 Bison."
- National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (18 February 2022), "Brucellosis."
- Jon D. B., Outdoors (9 March 2023), "‘Deadly’ Bison Hunt Leads to Mass Cleanup Outside Yellowstone National Park: PHOTOS."
- Rob Hotakainen, GreenWire (1 October 2018), "‘The Killing Fields’: Bison come to roam. Then they die."
- PBS (10 November 1998), "A Symbol of Strength."
- Todd Wilkinson, Mountain Journal (15 December 2017), "The Killing Fields Await Yellowstone Bison Once Again In Montana."
- Katharine Gammon, Inside Science (1 March 2018), "Bison Slaughter’s Destructive Legacy for Native Americans."
- Defenders of Wildlife (2023), "Bison."
The Petition:
To the Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, Directors of the National Park Service and Governor of Montana,
We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concern about the hunting of the Yellowstone bison herd. We understand that bison from Yellowstone National Park migrate to lower elevations to forage on grass during the winter months and end up at the northwestern boundary of the park. While federal law prohibits hunting in all our national parks, when the bison cross Yellowstone’s boundary, they are no longer protected by the National Park Service.
We are deeply troubled by the manner in which the bison are slaughtered. Witnesses have reported that the area where the bison are hunted is known as "The Killing Fields" due to the brutality of the hunt. Baby bison are shot grazing next to their mothers, and pregnant cows are killed, leaving their fetuses to rot in the field along with other detritus. The road is clogged with people and cars, and hundreds of gut piles are left in the field for months, endangering other wildlife and humans.
This indiscriminate killing of bison is a threat to the cultural heritage and traditional practices of indigenous tribes. It also undermines the conservation efforts of Yellowstone Park and puts the long-term survival of the bison at risk.
Furthermore, the hunt endangers property owners, neighbors, and visitors in residences only hundreds of yards away. We believe that this is unacceptable and that the hunt is not safe because it concentrates too many hunters in too small of an area. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has also concluded that the hunt is not safe.
Bison are our national mammal and the symbol of our National Parks. Killing herds of habituated bison on federally owned lands or chasing them off to be slaughtered only stains that symbol with blood.
We urge you to take immediate action to stop this unnecessary and cruel hunting of the Yellowstone bison herd. We believe that the National Park Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks have a responsibility to protect our national mammal and preserve the natural beauty of Yellowstone National Park.
We respectfully request that you end this hunt by taking the necessary steps to keep the bison in Yellowstone and out of harm's way. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt action.
Sincerely,
