Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The Montana Department of Livestock (DoL), U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hazed approximately 200 bison today. The agencies continued the operation even as bison were giving birth, severely threatening the survival of the calves. Most of the bison were hazed a distance of seven miles from Horse Butte to Yellowstone National Park during the seven hour operation.

Megan Gill said, "The newborn calf dropped from the mother, then had to immediately walk three miles to the park. I've never seen a more disappointing abuse of wildlife, and by agencies that are mandated to protect wildlife."

"Today's operation shows that these agencies have absolutely no regard for bison. By forcing calves to move at this incredibly tender age is as good as a death sentence," stated BFC volunteer Peter Leusch.

A wildfire spread from a burn pile in the Yellowstone Village Subdivision during the operation. At the request of adjacent landowners, BFC volunteers were able to contain the fire while five law enforcement officers supporting the hazing operation merely watched. The fire department arrived after about a 1/2 hour and helped bring the fire under control. Meanwhile, DoL used dogs and trespassed on private property to haze about 25 bison 1/2 mile from the fire.

"The fire was moving directly towards our place. If it hadn't been for the BFC, we would have been in big trouble." Said Joanne Stovall, a local homeowner. Her neighbor Jim Enebo said, "If it wasn't for those BFC folks we would have lost everything."

Buffalo Field Campaign is opposed to the repeated and unnecessary hazing of wild bison, and remains adamant that bison be granted the same rights as other wildlife. BFC volunteers have observed that bison hazed back to the park during past DOL operations quickly return to the same area. Each hazing action further places pregnant cows at a high risk for abortion and disrupts crucial migratory and sensitive reproductive patterns of all wildlife in the area.

The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in the field, everyday, to document and stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's wild buffalo. Volunteers defend the buffalo on their traditional habitat and advocate for their protection. Our daily patrols stand with the buffalo on the ground they choose to be on and document every move made against them.

Pete Leusch and Meghan Gill can be contacted by phone, 406-646-0070.