WEST YELLOWSTONE- Today the Montana Department of Livestock resumed hazing operations to chase migrating bison back into Yellowstone Park. They herded 15 of bison on horseback back to Yellowstone; many of the same buffalo who they hazed back into the park on Friday, November 20.

"The Department of Livestock claims that hazing the buffalo back to the park is a more humane way to protect Montana's brucellosis free status than shooting the animals. This piece of propaganda flies in the face of the true facts about brucellosis transmission. This perpetuates the myth that the Department of Livestock uses to justify their genocidal tactics against this nation's last wild buffalo herd," said Mike Bowersox, Buffalo Nations spokesperson.

There has never been a single documented case of brucellosis transmission from bison to cattle. It is estimated that half of the bison who leave Yellowstone Park will blood test positive for brucellosis. However, the presence of buffalo who test seropositive (blood) for brucellosis in the state of Montana is not sufficient cause for the federal Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to revoke Montana's brucellosis-free status. The test for brucellosis is a highly unreliable test. Buffalo are tested for seropositivity, which only proves that the buffalo have been exposed to brucellosis, and have developed antibodies against the disease.

For example, a beef cow that has been vaccinated against brucellosis will test seropositive for brucellosis, although it can not transmit the disease. A seropositive test result does not prove that a buffalo could transmit brucellosis. The potential for transmission can only be determined by a tissue culture.

According to the results of tissue and blood tests conducted by State and Federal officials during the winter of 1991-92, less than one-half of one percent of Yellowstone bison were infectious. Of the 218 bison sampled, not one, at the time of death, was capable of transmitting brucellosis bacteria to cattle.

Furthermore, there are no cattle in the presence of buffalo who migrate to West Yellowstone during the winter months, which also nullifies the possibility of transmission. Although management agencies target certain population levels for Yellowstone bison, there has never been a comprehensive scientific study of the carrying capacity for bison in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Wildlife ecologist Virginia Ravndal states, "There are much better solutions for the Yellowstone bison that do not entail any killing or confining of bison, and do address legitimate disease management issues while respecting the bison."

Buffalo Nations stands by our commitment to defend the buffalo wherever they roam, and until buffalo are given the same protection as all other wildlife. "The hidden agenda behind the capture facility is that the Montana DOL keeps all of the money from the auction of the heads, hides and meat. If the buffalo are shot in the field the carcasses are given to individual Native Americans or charities. The DOL is out to make more money, not to save buffalo," stated Michael S. Mease co-founder Buffalo Nations.

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