We Are So Fucked

Of course not, Doc. The US has always been exceedingly reluctant to describe its biological terrorist programs.

Maybe he thinks the mermaids have some part in all this.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18692830

All good information, Cowdoc, I appreciate it.
My only contact with the subject came up a few years ago when some folks were trying to set up the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in Osage County, Oklahoma and bring in about 300 head of bison. Oklahoma, as you may know, still ranks in the top five of cattle production and some of those people were not too happy.
But, they did the same thing you were talking about, testing and oversight (at least that was then, holy cow, that's getting on towards twenty years now.)


I loved going out there. A friend of mine had a telescope I could borrow. I'd set up a little watch station and wait. The buffalo had 25,000 acres to roam so it was always a matter of luck just to see any in the distance.
(I learned I couldn't stand up and expect any bison to show up any closer than 1/4 mile.) I had a couple of herds come in, settle down and then, all I'd have to do is reach for my camera and poof! they were off. (And yes, cityfolks, they sound like thunder.)
Once I didn't see any for a couple of hours, bored, I folded up the telescope and went back up over the little hill I was on. There, between me and my car, was a huge bull. He was lying in the dust of the road rolling back and forth like a great big black dog.
No one ever tread more slowly or quietly as I made a big circle to the driver's side door, but I didn't have to worry....he was having the best time in that dust. I got in, started up and was happy to see in my rearview his hugeness was still going at it.

Joe(nice doggy. sit. stay)Nation

Well, people might have been a bit mis-led by the title of the program (that's programme to you). It was named: Mermaid~The Body Found.

Might make you think a body had been, in fact, found.

Joe(But no)Nation

Sandia Pueblo next to Albuquerque maintains a 'herd' of Bison, but them Buffalo don't roam. They are in a tidy little corral across the street from the resort/casino, and don't look too happy about it. The reason they don't roam is that that corral is made of something that looks like railroad ties.

Don't know how we missed those ties when we were making up a batch of mesquite charcoal for shipment to PA.

mmm

I love the smell of burning creosote soaked railroad ties under my BBQ Chicken.

Joe(bastids)Nation

The bison are insane?! What of the humans who pushed them close to extinction?

So does farmerman. His feathers have been ruffled for over a decade on that subject.

The Canadian government bought all the remaining plains bison stock in 1906 from two farmers in Montana, and holed them up in the smallest national park, Elk Island. When it came time to transfer them up to Wood Buffalo National and other parks, they lost or misplaced approximately 50 in the fenced park. All of the Canadian herd and most of the American herd can be traced to the park . There are also many bison herds/farms here and across the country.
They no longer vaccinate the beasts as it's not really known if the medicine works. The animals are still routinely slaughtered and tested and today we have the largest disease free stock of both wood and plains bison.
As for being crazy.. there no worse than an angry cow or bull, just bigger with horns.

What medicine are you talking about that is "not really known if it works"? Do you mean the vaccine itself? And, if so, are you referring to Strain 19 or to RB-51? And, since you're familiar with their behavior, may I assume you've done a fair amount of OB and reproductive work with them? That's by far the best way I know to familiarize yourself to the extent that you can compare them to "an angry cow or bull".

I have been around plenty of bison, but no, I've not tried to get one pregnant.... The vaccines were made for cattle not bison. They are no longer used in EINP, or any of the Canadian (Albertan) national parks with bison. Because the vets who care for them aren't sure they work. There have never been any studies the prove they do. They may be used on farms, I couldn't tell you one way or another.
Bison are routinely culled and tested for disease. So far, we have a disease free herd. Our vets must know a thing or two...
It's my opinion and experience that bison are pretty much the same in the crazy dept as angry cattle. You and/or anyone else is welcome to their own opinion. I've seen angry cows and bulls and I think they are pretty much the same. My grandfather was gored by a bull, his bull, and I've seen and heard of many people kicked by cow and horses. I don't know anyone but stupid tourists who have been attacked by bison, either wood or plains. Mind you, I've seen stupid tourists tossed about by elk and moose as well. Wild or angry animals should never be trifled with.

Sorry, Ceili, but your vets know the vaccines work, on bison and cattle both. The reason Canada doesn't use it is the fact that the country is Brucellosis-free, and the testing method for the disease consists of measuring the animal's immunity. As such, it may be impossible to differentiate an infected animal from a vaccinated one. I've spent the past thirty-seven years working on cow-calf operations in central Idaho, including some bison outfits. Trust me, bison are NOT the same as English breed cattle. You are correct they may be no more likely to attack, but they are wound tighter than a three-dollar watch. Putting one's hand inside one to perform a pregnancy check or reposition a calf is indeed an adventure unlike any other. Their muscles are rock-hard tight, and you can anticipate an extremely unpleasant experience if they decide to suddenly explode. Trust me, after roughly a hundred thousand head down the crowding alley and into the head-gate, I've done much more than see angry cows and bulls.

I'm not trying to start a scrap here. Again, I've never been on that side of a bison's business. I don't particularly want to either. The park's vets I've talked to would beg to differ on the vaccines effectiveness, but I'm not going to argue. I've said my peace.

I usually agree with you, Ceili, but I'll listen to cowdoc on this.

No problem, Ceili. It's just that I've spent so many years trying to counter the misinformation that is so prevalent in the news media regarding the livestock industry in general, and Brucellosis in particular. The fact that I contracted the disease testing cattle in 1978 brings my personal experience into play, as well. The end result is that I feel I know a bit more about the subject than the average individual. Sadly, most of the opinions I hear expressed come from city dwellers who are lucky to know which end of a cow eats. I know I'm tilting at windmills, but I just can't seem to help myself.

I thought Bison were supposed to be a better source of meat, higher in protein and lower in fat. I have no idea really though....what's the story on this?

If the question is, Are there actually Republicans who are sufficiently fucked up that you'd vote against them in normal circumstances, the clear answer is yes.

The last time that ever happened in my case was the 91 Gubernatorial election in Virginia in which I voted for Doug Wilder, which I'd do again under the circumstances. Marshall Coleman was a 100% total loser who only appeared to care about one issue ("Right2Life(TM)") under the sun and Wilder was well within bounds of one of the better old style democrats which used to exist in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Given what I've been seeing over the past two or three decades however, I have no picture of that ever happening again. At this point, the worst Republican is better than the best demoKKKrat.

Communism is one thing; Gaea worship and idolatry is something else. Even communists living under Uncle Joe (Stalin)'s regime didn't have to worry about freezing to death or starving because somebody blew up their hydro-electric plant for for the benefit of a salmon or shut down the Ukraine for the sake of a delta smelt.

One of the dopiest things the white man ever did was bringing European cattle to the Americas. Cattle have a very long list of problems living in the Americas including not being able to deal with cold climates on their own, and there were at least four natural meat animals living in the Americas (elk, bison, moose, caribou) which have none of the problems on that list.

And bison burger and bison steak tastes better and has better texture than beef. I was luck enough to try it when I was in the Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room.

You have the correct info; bison meat is higher in protein with less fat than beef.

When my wife and I did the national parks tour two months ago, we learned about the bison, because Kevin Costner funded Tatanka, the story of the bison museum.

The whites slaughtered hundreds of thousands of bisons in order to chase out the Native Americans in the north-western plains, because they depended on the bison for food and shelter. At one time, there were only 1,000 bisons left, but that has now be turned around and we now have over 400,000 bisons - mostly on private property.

You can have bison meat in many different forms in the north-west restaurants and shops like beef including steaks and jerkys.