Episode 7: Buffalo Field Campaign, with Mike Mease

Welcome to the Audible Café Podcast!


Today, my guest is Mike Mease, Campaign Coordinator and
Co-Founder of the Buffalo Field Campaign. The Buffalo Field
Campaign is the only group working both in the field and in
policy arenas to stop the harassment and slaughter of
America’s last truly wild, genetically pure buffalo in
America. These buffalo are the direct descendants of the
30 to 60 million buffalo that used to roam continental North
America, and their herd currently contains less than 4,000
members. The primary goal of the Buffalo Field Campaign is to
create permanent year-round protection for bison and the
ecosystem they depend on—including respect for the migratory
needs of this long-exploited and clearly endangered
species. Mike has been devoted to the cause of the wild
buffalo for over 22 years. 


The fact that President Obama signed into law the
National Bison Legacy Act, which designates the
bison as the official mammal of the United States, has done
nothing to protect the buffalo! The Act includes a disclaimer
that the designation does not change the current management plan
that is actually devastating the herd through bad management and
what Mike and others aptly call “boxed hunts”. 


Buffalo Field Campaign staff and volunteers are in the process of
shepherding through the federal court a case for listing
the wild buffalo as an endangered species that would
give these wonderful animals the protections they need to thrive
- that is, so long as the Endangered Species Act thrives - which
is another battle we all must join in. Securing Endangered
Species Act status is a long haul and the Buffalo Field Campaign
team needs your help! They are halfway through an 8-year process
for designating this mammal as an endangered species, and what
should be a straightforward and swift action is nothing of the
kind. With the herd down to less than 4,000 members, this is an
urgent call to action.


So after you listen to this great interview with Mike Mease of
the Buffalo Field Campaign, please visit their website at
buffalofieldcampaign,org and please take note of
their matching campaign before it ends on November 30th. They are
a transparent and hard-working non-profit, and they are one of a
kind in the nation - the only ones doing this work on behalf of
the herd. So also visit their “Get Involved” page to take action
on behalf of the last wild herd of buffalo so dearly in need of
our protection. The “About Buffalo” section of the website is
truly awesome and full of inspiring information about buffalo.
The whole website is great.


Thanks again to Mike Mease of Buffalo Field Campaign for taking
the time to share his passion for the buffalo and his important
work on their behalf.


And thank you so much for listening to Audible Café! As always,
you can learn more and access archives and show notes with lots
of resources at audiblecafe.com, or visit the FB
page - just search for Audible Cafe, or follow us on Twitter
@audiblecafe. If you listen on iTunes it would
be great if you would review the podcast… 5 stars are OK with
us! 


And if you’d like to get directly in touch with us, email
listenup@audiblecafe.com.


Have a great day!


RESOURCES


Buffalo Field Campaign website:
 buffalofieldcampaign.org


Protect Our National Mammal: Be a Voice For the
Buffalo! Educational Slideshow for sharing


Get involved to save the herd! - Action
opportunities


CREDITS:


Audible Café theme music by Brian Eddy