Buffer Zone

As you may or may not know, <a href="http://governor.mt.gov/governor/govbio.asp">Gov. Brian Schweitzer</a> has proposed a buffer zone around Yellowstone National Park as an answer to the Brucellosis problem in the Park. I give him credit for trying to do something about the situation but I don't really think a buffer zone is the answer.<br />n<br />nIt doesn't look like North and South Dakota <a href="http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2007/09/30/ag_news/local_and_regional_news/new11.txt">really like the idea either</a>.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>North Dakota does not recognize split-state status due to monitoring problems of the cattle coming from the state in this class. “Who monitors that?” Keller asked. “We need assurance that there are no violations with the movement of breeding cattle across that state.”<br />n<br />nThis concern was also addressed by Dr. Sam Holland, South Dakota state veterinarian. “It's hard enough with the state geographical boundaries as they are now,” he said. “A split-state status multiplies this difficulty and puts the cattle producers of South Dakota at risk.”</blockquote><br />n<br />nIf this buffer zone is not acceptable to other states, what good is it doing us? None. I really think the buffer zone idea is dead in the water and needs to be thrown out. Placing the burden of Brucellosis in Yellowstone National Park on the few producers who would fall in the area is wrong. The burden of Brucellosis needs to be on the Federal government who controls the livestock, bison, where the problem resides.<br />n<br />nThe Feds need to get the Brucellosis under control in the Bison and they need to reduce the numbers of Bison in the park to control them wandering out of the Park. I find it interesting that if I as a private individual over graze my grass, environmentalist will scream bloody murder and want me to stop over grazing. If the Bison do it in YNP the environmentalist scream bloody murder that the Bison don't have more public lands to graze on. They don't seem to care about the over grazing. Interesting, isn't it.<br />n<br />n<strong>A propensity to hope and joy is real riches; one to fear and sorrow real poverty. David Hume </strong>