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[source: NativeNews; Tue, 25 Jan 2000 22:10:51]

From: buffalo@wildrockies.org (Buffalo Field Campaign) (by way of Buffalo
Folks)   press release

Department of Livestock Attempts to Haze Bull Buffalo: Activist Assaulted
by Agent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 2000
Contact: Daniel Brister, Michael S. Mease (406)646-0070

West Yellowstone, MT - Shortly after noon today, the Montana Department of
Livestock (DOL) attempted to haze a bull buffalo from the south side of the
Madison River.  Three DOL agents on snowmobiles, accompanied by an officer
from the Gallatin County Sheriff's department, participated in the
operation.

During this operation in Gallatin National Forest, Buffalo Field Campaign
volunteer Andrea Rightsell was assaulted by a DOL agent as she approached
to ask a question.  Rightsell was standing in front of the agent when he
ran into her with his snowmobile, knocking her to the ground.  She intends
to press charges.

The object of the DOL's hazing operation was a lone bull who has been out
of the park less than a week, on National Forest land designated as
wildlife habitat.  It is unclear whether the DOL intended to capture the
buffalo or haze him back to the park.  Hazing buffalo causes them
unnecessary stress and taxes the crucial energy reserves they need to
survive the winter.  The bull was forced to run through snow deep enough
that the DOL's snowmobiles became stuck repeatedly.

Montana has recently come under fire from federal agencies for its
mismanagement of the Yellowstone herd.  Although there has never been a
documented case of brucellosis transmission from wild buffalo to livestock,
the state maintains a zero-tolerance policy for buffalo migrating from the
park.  The state insists such measures are necessary to preserve the
brucellosis-free status of Montana's cattle.

The state's position is neither supported by science nor endorsed by the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the federal body
responsible for maintaining the state's brucellosis-free status.  "We don't
feel there's a need to kill every bison that comes out of the park," said
APHIS spokesperson Patrick Collins.

Because bulls cannot transmit the disease, APHIS considers them "low risk"
and says their presence in the state will not jeopardize Montana's
brucellosis-free status.  Of the ninety buffalo shipped to slaughter last
winter, forty-two were bulls.  These animals were killed in the name of
protecting cattle, who do not even return to the area until June 15.

"The DOL is totally unqualified to be managing the buffalo, as today's
events clearly show.  We can't afford to entrust our last free herd of
buffalo to an agency that doesn't seem to know or care how to protect
them," said Emily Kodama, a volunteer with the Buffalo Field Campaign.

Video footage and still photos available upon request

Buffalo Field Campaign
(formerly Buffalo Nations)
PO Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070 phone
406-646-0071 fax
buffalo@wildrockies.org
www.wildrockies.org/buffalo
 

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