Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

West Yellowstone, MT - This morning a Department of Livestock helicopter hazed four bulls from Grayling Creek and captured them in the Duck Creek facility at 9:00 AM. Three other bulls on Cougar creek were hazed by the helicopter and captured at 10:00 AM. One BFC volunteer was arrested in the Cougar creek area.

According to BFC spokesperson Peter Leusch, "Early spring is the deadliest time of year for wildlife. By flying low over these creeks, DOL threatens the lives of elk, moose, deer and other wildlife. The bison were in an area where cattle are never present, and posed absolutely no threat to Montana's livestock industry."

A tripod was built early this morning on Forest Service road 610, blocking access to the Horse Butte bison capture facility. One individual occupied a platform below the tripod's apex. The action was taken to prevent the capture of several bull bison that have been grazing in the Horse Butte area all winter.

BFC, Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers, and The Ecology Center Inc. have filed a Notice of Intent to Sue in Federal District Court to halt the use of the Horse Butte Capture Facility. BFC volunteer Megan Fishback stated, "We feel that this facility has been put in illegally and that it has harsh effects not only on buffalo but on bald eagles, an threatened species."

DOL claims that wild bison could transmit brucellosis to cattle and pose a threat to Montana's cattle industry. Yet the closest cattle are over 50 miles away. Grazing by livestock in the area doesn't start until June 15. In addition, there has never been a documented case of transmission from bison to cattle in a natural setting.

Peter Leusch said, "Montana continues to capture and kill these animals because they have no tolerance for bison in the state. The real reason for the slaughter is rooted in a bureaucratic power struggle for control of public lands. The only losers are wildlife, the American public, and the local economy."

Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers defend the buffalo on their traditional winter habitat and advocate for their protection. BFC is the only group working in the field every day to document and stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's wild buffalo.