Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

I continue to be amazed at the strength and determination of the volunteers who are working so hard to defend the buffalo and share their story with the world. A typical day begins at 4am and isn't over until the end of our nightly meeting, usually around 10:30 pm. Spring is the most difficult time as the days are longest, there are greater numbers of buffalo out of the park, and the DOL's insistence on killing bison is strongest. Because many volunteers who have been here all season start to leave at this time of year, our numbers are down.

Right now there are more than 200 buffalo out of the park along the Madison River between the park boundary and the Horse Butte Peninsula. They are being captured and slaughtered on a weekly basis. I wish I could write more uplifting updates but the truth is the truth and needs to be told. Buffalo are being slaughtered systematically on a weekly basis and we are doing everything in our power to raise awareness of and stop the needless killing.

Peter Leusch, with whom I share the media coordinator position, was arraigned before a federal magistrate in Missoula this morning. Pete was arrested yesterday after he blocked the only access road to the Horse Butte bison capture facility by locking himself into a "bat mobile"-- a station wagon that was modified to allow him to lock his arms around the drive-shaft from inside. It took fifteen agents more than two hours to move Pete and the car to the side of the road and get the equipment that they need to capture bison past the obstruction to the trap. This is two hours that would have otherwise been used to find, haze, and capture bison. Pete pled not guilty to three federal misdemeanor charges: resisting arrest, creating a road hazard, and maintaining an illegal structure. He was released on his own recognizance.

After arresting Pete the DOL, Park Service, Forest Service, and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks proceeded to capture 24 bison. We saw two livestock trailers full of bison go to the slaughterhouse this morning. Because DOL spokesperson Karen Cooper won't answer my request for specific information on the capture and slaughter, we don't yet know how many bison were slaughtered and how many were released.

Our summer campaign kicks off Memorial Day weekend and we still need volunteers to staff our information tables in Yellowstone National Park. We are also currently hiring a summer office coordinator. If you are interested in either of these roles, please call 406-646-0070 and ask for Valerie or Cookie.

-db-

Yesterday's capture operation coincided with the opening of the Governor's Conference on Tourism, currently underway in West Yellowstone. Montana Governor Judy Martz will speak at the tourism conference on Friday. Martz needs to realize the irony in her attempt to promote tourism while supporting the slaughter of America's last wild buffalo. Call the governor's office and tell her you won't support tourism in a state that is killing our natural heritage: Judy Martz, phone 406-444-3111 And call the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce and tell them the same, phone: 406-646-7701.