Below is a news release from The Buffalo Field Campaign.
*News Release*
Montana Department of Livestock Shoots Bull Buffalo on Yellowstone National Park Boundary
For Immediate Release: November 25, 2003
Contact: Josh Osher (406) 646-0070
West Yellowstone, MT: A lone bull buffalo was shot by agents of the Montana Department of Livestock at 9:15 this morning as he attempted to return to Yellowstone National Park.
The bull was hazed toward the Duck Creek Capture Facility through private property in the Duck Creek housing area. Agents were unable to capture the buffalo and shot him from behind as he fled toward the park across land owned by Dale Koelzer. Yellowstone Park rangers assisted.
Chris Mays witnessed the shooting, "The bull was less than fifty yards from the park boundary when the DOL opened fire. It took five shots to finally kill him and the agents were laughing and smiling the whole time. There is no conceivable reason for them to kill bulls."
Bull buffalo are considered a "low risk" of transmitting brucellosis, the state's justification for the slaughter. There has never been a documented case of wild buffalo transmitting brucellosis to livestock.
Congress took action to protect the Yellowstone herd earlier this month with the introduction of the Yellowstone Buffalo Preservation Act (H.R. 3446). The bipartisan legislation--which would stop the hazing, capture, and slaughter of Yellowstone buffalo--was introduced by Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D) and Rep. Charles Bass (R) on November 5.
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in the field, everyday, to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's wild buffalo. Volunteers defend the buffalo on their traditional winter habitat and advocate for their protection. Daily patrols stand with the buffalo on the ground they choose to be on and document every move made against them.
Yellowstone bison are members of the only herd with continuously wild ancestry on its native range. The herd is both genetically and behaviorally unique. Today's kill marks the start of the DOL's 2003-2004 slaughter season. Montana has killed more than 3,500 Yellowstone buffalo since 1985.
Buffalo Field Campaign
PO Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
(406) 646-0070
buffalo@wildrockies.org
www.wildrockies.org/buffalo
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Below is some general information on the bill introduced to Congress last month. You can read the entire details here.
On November 5, 2003, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) introduced the H.R. 3446, titled the "Yellowstone Buffalo Preservation Act". The bill is designed to protect Yellowstone bison from unnecessary management practices including hazing (chasing bison with helicopters, snowmobiles, horses and ATV's), capturing, and killing. Under the bill, bison would be allowed to range in Montana up to the edge of zone 3 of the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP). This area constitutes a relatively small portion of lands on the west and north sides of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) where bison currently migrate in winter and spring with fatal consequences. The bill further establishes that the National Park Service (NPS) has sole jurisdiction over bison inside YNP.
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