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West Yellowstone, MT - On Monday, the
Montana Department of Livestock (DOL), MT Fish, Wildlife
& Parks (FWP), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), National
Park Service (NPS) and Gallatin County Sheriffs Department
conducted a major bison hazing operation on private
and public lands. Using horses, ATVs, trucks, and a
helicopter, agents harassed members of America's last
wild herd of buffalo and infuriated area residents.
There are no public lands cattle allotments on Horse
Butte or along the Madison River where buffalo commonly
migrate in spring. The majority of the bison hazed yesterday
were newborn calves and their mothers, animals that
pose absolutely no risk of transmitting brucellosis.
Five bull buffalo--animals that also pose no risk of
transmitting brucellosis--were chased across private
property with a helicopter without prior warning to
residents or respect for the homeowner's private property
rights.
The majority of West Yellowstone area residents appreciate
the presence of wild buffalo and post "Buffalo
Safe Zone" signs along their property boundaries
to inform the DOL and other agents that bison are welcome
and the agents are not. The DOL frequently ignores the
rights of private property owners.
Dave Martinez, a homeowner in Upper Bear Trap housing
area, located less than a mile from Yellowstone National
Park, remarked on yesterday's hazing operation, "This
is getting out of control. We've got kids running around
here and the agents drive their big trucks through looking
for bison, not paying attention to us. I don't need
my kids seeing bison being harassed. It's all totally
unnecessary and we're all sick of it."
Governor Schweitzer's office received numerous phone
calls from upset West Yellowstone residents yesterday.
Numerous residents were outraged by the use of the helicopter
over their homes, and are growing more impatient with
the DOL's bison harassment activities. When asked why
the DOL was hazing buffalo from private land where they
are welcome, Hal Harper, the Governor's Chief Policy
Advisor said, "The agreement, the understanding
we had was that the helicopter would be used for spotting
and necessary hazing."
"Hazing buffalo with a helicopter through neighborhoods
and disrespecting the rights of property owners is hardly
necessary," countered BFC's Stephany Seay, who
documented yesterday's operations. "It's a wicked
display of power, a major safety hazard, and a waste
of taxpayer money for the DOL to terrorize wild buffalo
moms, newborn calves and the homeowners who enjoy co-existing
with them."
May 15 marks the DOL's "zero tolerance" date
for wild bison outside of Yellowstone National Park,
according to the Interagency Bison Management Plan.
Regardless of this politically derived date, Montana
never shows tolerance for wild bison, who are always
subject to hazing, capture, slaughter, quarantine or
shooting. Livestock interests fear wild bison may transmit
the cattle-disease brucellosis to livestock. However,
there has never been a confirmed case of a wild bison
transmitting the disease to cattle. Bulls, yearlings,
calves and non-pregnant buffalo pose no risk of transmitting
brucellosis, while pregnant bison pose only a theoretical
risk. Elk--animals also infected with brucellosis--are
free to roam Montana and neighboring states.
"Where are the cows? I don't see any cows around
here," continued local resident Dave Martinez.
"I live here because I love this place, I love
the bison, and DOL is pushing people to their limits."
Nearly 1,000 native wild buffalo have been killed during
the 2005-2006 winter under management actions carried
out by the Montana Department of Livestock (59) the
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (40),
and the National Park Service (853+). More than 3,400
native wild bison have been killed by the agencies in
the past ten years.
The Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group working
in the field, every day, to stop the slaughter of the
wild Yellowstone buffalo. Volunteers defend the buffalo
and their native habitat and advocate for their lasting
protection. Daily patrols stand with the buffalo on
the ground they choose to be on and document every move
made against them.
For more information visit: http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
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