submitted by Buffalo Nations
January 12, 1998
WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT- Today the Department of Livestock hazed eight bull
buffalo from Red Canyon, forced them to run 8 miles back towards
Yellowstone Park, and pushed them into the Duck Creek Capture facility. Two
more hungry buffalo who had been hazed into the park in a prior DOL hazing
operation were lured into facility today prior to the hazing operation.
The eight buffalo were eating piles of hay that were left in Red Canyon by
the landowner, Mike Manship. The piles have attracted numerous bison and
over 100 elk to the canyon.
APHIS has stated its willingness to accept the presence of bison who pose a
low risk for brucellosis transmission for up to 60 days prior to the return
of cattle to the area. These low risk animals are defined as untested
bulls, yearlings, calves and non-pregnant females. There are no cattle in
the conflict zone west of the park until June. The presence of brucellosis
exposed buffalo in the state is not cause for revocation of Montana's
brucellosis free status under APHIS guidelines.
Patrick Collins, director of legislative and public affairs for APHIS said
that their agency has been working with state vets from other states to
insure that these states do not impose sanctions against Montana beef. He
stated, "If they don't have a scientific basis (for threatening sanctions),
we've been pretty successful in getting them to back off." (Bozeman Daily
Chronicle, Saturday, January 9).
The state Board of Livestock will meet January 21-22 in Helena to consider
a policy of leniency towards "low risk" bison. Seven of the eight buffalo
slaughtered on Friday were bulls, who are considered low risk. All of the
buffalo captured today are also bulls.
"Why is the state of Montana so stubbornly insistent that they have a right
to kill these buffalo? Every indication shows that the Montana livestock
industry will not be hurt by allowing buffalo to enter the state, yet they
continue their illogical practices of killing. The Department of Livestock
should not be allowed to manage the Greater Yellowstone bison herd," said
Buffalo Nations spokesperson Sue Nackoney.
The Department of Livestock continues to bait buffalo from Yellowstone Park
into the capture facility. Buffalo Nations volunteers attempted numerous
times to prevent the two buffalo from entering the facility, but the
buffalo finally bolted past them in order to reach the hay. When the
Department of Livestock puts hay in the facility, buffalo who are a half
mile back in the park smell the hay and are almost unstoppable as they walk
into the facility.
"After witnessing over 10 of the DOL hazing efforts where they have spent
thousands of tax dollars, it seems ironic to watch the same agency bait
these same animals back out of the park to their capture facility located
on the park's border," stated Michael Mease Buffalo Nations.
On Friday, January 8, the Department of Livestock killed 8 buffalo that it
captured at its Duck Creek Capture facility. Three Buffalo Nations
volunteers were arrested for non-violently attempting to stop the transport
of the bison to the slaughterhouse.
"Buffalo Nations 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 Nations spokesperson.
Buffalo Nations and the local community will be holding a vigil for the
captive buffalo at the base of Duck Creek Road on highway 191 (near
intersection of rte 287) beginning at 7:00 a.m.
For more information, contact:
Buffalo Nations
PO Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070 phone
406-646-0071 fax
buffalo@wildrockies.org
www.wildrockies.org/buffalo
