More: An article in Harper's Magazine by Christopher Ketcham vividly describes the buffalo roundup in and around Yellowstone and the appalling history of our treatment of the buffalo. (June 2008). Nearby ranchers are quick to point out the threat of brucellosis spreading from bison in which it circulates harmlessly to cattle where it causes miscarriages. Of course they sometimes forget to mention that their cattle graze on public lands at artificially low cost. Some of the public range should be used to allow that last genetically pure Bison bison to survive in the wild. The Yellowstone herd is among the last 15,000 or so truly wild buffalo in America. The 300,000 domesticated bison, raised for their hides and meat, are all hybrids to some extent.[5/13/08]The Regime brutally slaughtered 1600 hundred of the last free buffalo in the Yellowstone this winter. The hard winter killed 700 more. In the space of six months America has lost half of its last free roaming herd, the largest death toll since the 1800's when the noble beasts were exterminated to the point of near extinction. The senseless slaughter has brought a public outcry. NRDC has helped generate 120,000 protests from concerned Americans. The National Park Service is paying attention. And the State of Montana, acutely aware that Americans are outraged, has just called a halt to this season's slaughter. But more is needed, especially more habitat outside the national park boundaries, if these symbols of our freedom are to remain free. Join me and help NRDC fight to help our buffalo by campaigning for long term protections. If we value bison enough to put their image on our $50 gold coins, they are worth preserving in the wild.