Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Tripod Sitters Enter 3rd Week! Volunteers Needed! On Forest Service Road 610 to Stop Construction of Buffalo Trap

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT - Two Buffalo Nations volunteers, Kelly Needs and Brandon Bridges, continue into their third week of blockading the construction of a new capture facility. Since January 25, they have been sitting on platforms suspended 30 feet above the ground from lodge pole pine tripods blocking the Forest Service Road leading to the site of a newly permitted bison trap on Horse Butte. The trap, which has not yet been constructed, will be similar to the trap at Duck Creek which has sent 15 buffalo to slaughter this winter.

On Friday, January 29, District Ranger David Garber signed a Decision Notice allowing the DOL to operate a new buffalo capture facility on the Gallatin National Forest according to their "long-term" plan over the next 10 years. The Permit to build the facility has not been signed by the Department of Livestock. Forest Service representatives available today did not know why the signing was delayed. As of late January, the DOL stated that they were planning to construct the trap before February 1, during which time they had permission to operate by the terms of their "short-term" plan. Currently DOL is conducting eagle surveys for a nesting pair whose habitat is adjacent to one of the proposed capture facility sites.

"Why is the DOL responsible for wildlife management? It makes no sense for livestock agents to be monitoring the nesting patterns of eagles whose presence might prohibit the construction of the capture facility. This is the same twist of logic that allows the DOL, an agency in charge of livestock, to have control over wildlife through current bison management policy. The DOL has no incentive to care for wildlife when cattle interests are at stake," stated Sue Nackoney, Buffalo Nations spokesperson.

The road blockade progressed from two tripods (30 foot high structure made of three lodge pole pine poles lashed together at the apex) to four tripods. One 3 foot by 5 foot platform is suspended from the apex of one of the tripods and the other platform is suspended from a pole balanced between two of the other tripods. There are now a total of 15 poles in the structure, one for each buffalo who has been killed by the DOL this year.

"We are here because we can not watch more buffalo face needless death at the hands of the Department of Livestock. It is obvious that capture facilities kill buffalo, and that few are released. Our blockade will continue for as long as necessary, until buffalo are safe on Horse Butte," said Brandon Bridges, an 18 year old student from Kentucky.

The sitters have spent their days and nights living on platforms in the air since the early morning of Monday, January 25. Temperatures have reached thirty degrees below zero at times and there have been several major snowstorms and huge windstorms. The 610 road is closed by drifting snow.

Law enforcement officers from the DOL, Forest Service, and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks have visited the blockade, but they haven't made any effort to remove it.

The state of Montana has requested up to $500,000 per year in federal subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the operation of the bison trap.

There are no cows on Horse Butte until June. All of these cows winter in Idaho, and are currently vaccinated against brucellosis. The summer grazing on Horse Butte amounts to 172 cow/calf pairs present from June 15th through October. This grazing allotment brings in less than $800 to the U.S. Treasury.

The facility will capture and test buffalo who migrate to the peninsula. The agencies claim that the operation of the capture facility will help with the "urgent need" to reduce bison mortality. However, in the winter of 1996-1997, the use of these facilities sent hundreds of buffalo to slaughter. All pregnant females, regardless of whether they test positive for brucellosis, will be shipped to slaughter. All other buffalo testing positive will be shipped to slaughter, including bulls and yearling calves, which pose virtually no risk of brucellosis transmission. Of the 15 buffalo slaughtered this winter, 13 have been bulls.

The test that the DOL uses to determine the fate of its captive bison is highly unreliable. Buffalo are tested for seropositivity, a blood indicator which only proves that the buffalo have been exposed to brucellosis, and have developed antibodies against the disease. For example, a beef cow that has been vaccinated against brucellosis will test seropositive for brucellosis, although it can not transmit the disease. A seropositive test result does not prove that a buffalo could transmit brucellosis. The potential for transmission can only be determined by a tissue culture of the reproductive tract.

Video Footage Available upon Request. Scanned still photos available from our web site. http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo

Please take the time to call Montana Governor, Marc Racicot at (406)444-3111 or 1-800-332-2272 and the Montana Department of Livestock at (406)444-2023 and ask them why Montana continues to slaughter our last herd of wild buffalo. Below are a few ideas for more questions to ask.

1. How many bison were killed yesterday/today/whatever day?
2. What was the sex and age of each animal killed?
If calves were killed, what was the sex of each calf?
remember 13 of 15 buffalo killed this year were bulls who
APHIS has repeatedly stated, cannot transmit brucellosis)
3. Were they tested for brucellosis before they were killed?
If so, when and by whom?
4. Who were the carcasses given to? What about the skulls?
What about the hides?

Hi everyone, it's Sarah again asking anyone with time to lend to come out to help with the buffalo here. We are at one of our lowest points as far as numbers go and are reaching a critical point in the campaign.

1. We know you've heard it before, but we really need you to come help the buffalo! 2. Tripod sitters weather intense winds and storms 3. Take a moment- call the Governor and DOL and ask them some hard questions. Greetings from the field...BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrr...

There are five buffalo at Red Canyon. One of these has already been captured and released as testing negative for brucellosis. The DOL has been out to look at them which is their usual practice before trying to haze and capture the animals.

There are also buffalo coming dangerously close to the Duck Creek capture facility. Patrols in this area are kept around the clock.

And, of course, our blockade of the 610 Forest Service road continues and requires a number of volunteers to be there 24 hours. We are trying to keep the volunteers rotated out for rest, but our dwindling numbers are making this difficult.

No matter what, we will be here. If you can be here too, please call me at (406)646-0070 or answer this e-mail and let me know when you can come out. The week of the 14th coming up is a time we especially need people. Hope you can make it!

Buffalo Field Camp
P.O. Box 957, West Yellowstone, Mt. 59758
Media Contact Sarah Chalmers, Sue Nackoney
Phone: (406)646-0070 FAX: (406)646-0071
Email: buffalo@wildrockies.org
URL: http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo