Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

DOL and Forest Service sign permit for new buffalo capture facility on Horse Butte. Two More Bull Buffalo Shipped to Slaughter Yesterday.

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT - This morning, over 20 officials including Department of Livestock agents in cooperation with Gallatin County Sheriff, Highway Patrol, and Forest Service law enforcement closed the area around the base of the tripod structures on the Gallatin National Forest, outside of West Yellowstone, MT. The blockade has been occupied by Buffalo Field Camp volunteers since January 25, 1999. One volunteer, Donald Fontenot, age 35 of Portland, Oregon, was arrested at the base of the tripods around 10:00 this morning when he tried to climb into one of the platforms. Summer Nelson, 22, of Missoula, was arrested at 3:00 p.m. after she was removed by a cherrypicker from a platform suspended from the back end of the 150 foot long blockade of 5 interlocking tripods. She was locked to the structure from her platform 30 feet in the air in order to prevent the removal of the blockade until her arms were removed from the locking device and she was taken into custody by Gallatin County Sheriffs. She is being charged with maintaining an unauthorized structure and resisting arrest.

On March 16, the Department of Livestock signed their permit to construct a new bison trap on the Gallatin National Forest on Horse Butte, which they had delayed signing for a month and a half because they did not want to assume legal liability for removal of the tripod blockade. Plowing of the road has begun. Construction of the facility has not begun yet.

Tripod sitter Summer Nelson stated, "I have been in West Yellowstone for the past several winters, and am appalled at the buffalo slaughter. I am here to speak for the buffalo until they are safe outside of Yellowstone. This has been a hard winter, as snow is deep in the park and the buffalo are hungry. Horse Butte has the earliest available forage, it is critical winter habitat for these buffalo. It is time that the state recognized that trapping and killing buffalo is unnecessary and ludicrous, and stand up for a change."

Recently the Gallatin National Forest amended their grazing permits for all ranchers with allotments surrounding Yellowstone. All ranchers have agreed to comply with the new terms, which will prohibit the return of cattle until 30 to 60 days after buffalo return to the park, and no earlier than June 15. The summer grazing on Horse Butte amounts to 172 cow/calf pairs. This grazing allotment brings in less than $800 to the U.S. Treasury.

"There is no reason for the DOL to pursue such an aggressive course of action towards the buffalo on Horse Butte, in light of the recent grazing modifications and the growing public opinion supporting the buffalo. The DOL is just flexing their political muscles in a war that defies all logic where the buffalo are the victims. Why does the DOL insist upon using $500,000 of our tax dollars for killing more of Yellowstone's buffalo, all in the name of cattle who return less than $800 to the U.S. Treasury?" stated Sue Nackoney, Buffalo Field Campaign spokesperson.

Yesterday, March 17, the DOL sent 2 bull bison to slaughter from their Duck Creek capture facility. One bull and two calves were released onto Horse Butte. Buffalo Field Camp volunteers stand by their commitment to protect buffalo from the traps and guns of the DOL.

"The recent actions of the DOL are just one more nail in the coffin of an agency that should have no authority to manage bison. A bill is being introduced today in the Montana Legislature that will remove the DOL from bison management. Let's look at some sane approaches to solving this problem, not these reactionary and illogical decisions of the DOL that only waste taxpayer money and the public's good faith," said Mike Mease, Buffalo Field Campaign spokesperson.

"Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers will be here to stand with these buffalo until they are free to live on their winter habitat without being chased, captured, or killed. Until this happens, many of us feel in our hearts that non-violent direct action is the only way to stop this senseless tragedy," said Michael Bowersox, Buffalo Field Campaign spokesperson.

Sue Nackoney and Mike Mease can be contacted by way of the following phone number. (406) 646-0070

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