WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT- The arrest of Donald Fontenot on charges of "possession of dangerous drugs" on March 18 has resulted in his decision to leave the Buffalo Field Campaign. His arrest occurred when the Department of Livestock evicted the nearly two month old tripod road blockade, which had halted the construction of a new buffalo capture facility on Horse Butte in the Gallatin National Forest. Buffalo Field Campaign is guided by a set of policies which state that alcohol or non-prescription drugs are not permitted on the premises of Buffalo Field Campaign.

Buffalo Field Campaign vehicles and patrols are not to be involved with any such purpose. This conduct will result in a volunteer or coordinator being asked to leave. Every volunteer that comes to this campaign signs an agreement to this effect. "Although Fontenot was a respected member of the group and an asset to the campaign, his alleged actions on March 18 show a disregard for the policies this organization adheres to," said spokesperson Michael S. Mease. "It goes against what we are working for: to bring the facts of what is happening to the last free-roaming herd of buffalo to the public. We want to prevent the Montana Department of Livestock and related agencies from fulfilling their mission to destroy the few remaining wild buffalo in our country that leave Yellowstone National Park, and prevent the disruption of bald eagle nesting sites on Horse Butte adjacent to their new capture facility," said spokesperson Sarah Chalmers. "Our hope is that the public will weigh the vast amount of good our campaign has accomplished in exposing the crimes the DOL has committed towards the buffalo and bald eagle against the personal indiscretion of one volunteer. With this in mind we hope support will continue for this cause," said Chalmers.

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