West Yellowstone, MT - The recent abuse of buffalo by the Montana Department of Livestock gives rise to a growing concern for pregnant buffalo preparing to give birth. One calf who was orphaned when the DOL sent it's mother to slaughter, recently died. This calf struggled for weeks on highway 191. This calf was not alone this winter.
As well as orphaned calves, the Department of Livestock's hazing last week resulted in the deaths of two pregnant females on the butte. Although they escaped the hazing, the subsequent loss of support from their herd made it impossible for them to survive.
Six buffalo died as a direct result of last weeks hazing. The DOL has claimed responsibility for the four that died while in their capture facility, but not for the two that died after being released onto Horse Butte with massive bodily injury from gore wounds incurred in the DOL trap. "The Department of Livestock is incapable of "managing" the Yellowstone buffalo herd. No animal should be treated this way," said spokesperson Sarah K. Chalmers.
Buffalo choose Horse Butte for a calving ground every year. Their birthing period depends on the weather and availability of food. HorseButte provides an ideal calving ground. During last years mass hazing operation by the DOL, three females hid in the woods and gave birth to their calves. They spent a little over two weeks recovering from the birth and strengthening the young calves before heading back to the park.
96 buffalo have died as a result of actions taken by the DOL this year. In none of these deaths was there any danger of brucellosis transmission to cattle, as no cattle were present when the animals were taken for slaughter. "The persistence of the DOL in killing all pregnant females makes one wonder if they are actually involved in population control, rather than disease management. The Yellowstone herd is in no need of culling this year. They are in need of space to graze and give birth and survive this winter with new calves to strengthen the herd as they return to the park," Chalmers said.
