| Yellowstone Bison Slaughter
|
| News
Article - 10/01/99 |
 |
| |
|
|
| Landowner
admits killing bison
By Scott McMillion, Bozeman Daily Chronicle
10/01/99
|
A
West Yellowstone man admitted killing a bison on his property
earlier this week, State Veterinarian Arnold Gertonson
said Thursday evening.
"Dale Koelzer called me (Wednesday) night between
10:30 and 11 and reported that he had shot the buffalo,"
Gertonson said.
Koelzer owns the property north of West Yellowstone upon
which the Montana Department of Livestock operates one
of its bison traps. The agency has also leased the basement
of his home to house employees.
Rob Tierney, who oversees DOL operations in West Yellowstone,
had said earlier Wednesday that Koelzer had told a department
employee that he had not shot the bull bison but had found
the carcass on his property. Tierney said he believed
him and passed that assurance on to the Chronicle in an
interview.
"We got some bad information," Gertonson said
Thursday.
The bull was killed near the trap, a short distance from
the Yellowstone National Park boundary and about 12 miles
north of West Yellowstone.It's head, much of the hide,
and its genitals had been removed when it was found Tuesday
by members of Buffalo Field Campaign, a group protesting
the rounding up and killing of bison that leave the park.
"He just thought it was the thing to do," Gertonson
said of Koelzer.
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks now
has the head and hide and has removed the carcass, which
could have attracted wandering grizzly bears.
Koelzer keeps horses on the property and Montana law allows
landowners to kill bison if they are posing an immediate
threat to livestock.
However, the law also requires such actions to be reported
immediately to DOL.
If the bison aren't posing an immediate threat, the law
requires landowners to call DOL, which will decide whether
to shoot them or haze them.
FWP officials are investigating and will decide whether
to prosecute, Gertonson said.
West Yellowstone resident game warden Jim Miller could
not be reached for comment Thursday evening.
Koelzer's property is in the Duck Creek area, in the middle
of a migration pathway for bison, and he has complained
about their presence on his land in the past.
Top
of Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
