FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 20, 1998 Media Contacts: Mike Mease, Sue Nackoney (406) 646-0070

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT- Today the Department of Livestock (DOL) began an aggressive and dangerous hazing operation in the Duck Creek drainage of West Yellowstone, MT. Eleven buffalo who have been outside of the park over the past few weeks were chased by DOL officials on horseback east towards the Duck Creek capture facility and back into Yellowstone Park.

The horseback riders chased the buffalo across highway 191 without regard for traffic safety on the road. Buffalo Nations volunteers stopped traffic to allow buffalo to cross safely. DOL riders then began to shoot crackerbarrel rounds in order to scare the buffalo back to the park.

Highway 191 is a major route for trucks, who gain high speeds on their way down the road to where the road crosses the Duck Creek drainage. This route is also busy with tourist traffic and locals.

A Buffalo Nations volunteer on site said that the buffalo were confused by the cars, and that one buffalo was almost hit by a car. A Yellowstone National Park official on patrol stopped by and thanked Buffalo Nations volunteers for their help in stopping traffic and had no idea this was taking place.

"The methods that the DOL used today could have killed people or buffalo," stated Michael Mease, Buffalo Nations co-founder. Mease watched the hazing operation and said, "Today 's actions by the DOL show their blatant disregard for their mandate to cooperate with the other bison management agencies. Buffalo Nations is extremely worried that the DOL will cause someone to be killed with this kind of activity."

Video footage and still photos available upon request

Background information:

*On January 22, 1998, the DOL sent five captive bull buffalo to slaughter from the Duck Creek capture facility. Buffalo Nations volunteer Dan Howells locked himself to a trailer of captive bison to protest the slaughter.

*Buffalo Nations is a coalition of grassroots activists from all over the country working on the ground everyday to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's buffalo.

*In the winter of 1996-97, nearly 1100 wild buffalo were slaughtered by the Montana's Dept. of Livestock and rangers from Yellowstone National Park. These wild buffalo were leaving Yellowstone National Park in search of food during an extremely cold and snowy winter. At the beginning of Winter 97-98, only 1/3 of the herd remained.

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Update from the field, November 19

Buffalo Nations is swinging into action- we've been on our toes these past few weeks trying to keep the new bison capture facility from being permitted by the Forest Service, mapping bison migration areas, and building bunkbeds in our cabin. Snow has been falling but not too much is sticking around yet. We are on the lookout for a few elusive buffalo outside of the park.

Today we started our first patrols on Horse Butte to watch the site for the proposed capture facility. A bald eagle was flying over the Butte this morning, and another immature eagle was sighted this afternoon. It is important for us to document the presence of eagles in the area, because the proposed facility might very well deter eagles from nesting in February. We're also organizing to protest the capture facility if the decision goes through. The local community is irate that the facility will be put in their backyards, and almost all of the residents of the subdivision on Horse Butte have signed a petition against it. Also, the newly formed Let the Buffalo Roam network is connecting grassroots activists throughout the region who are combining forces to make sure not one more buffalo is killed this winter.

People have been calling from all over the country to tell us that they're coming out to be with the buffalo this winter. Already we have a small group of folks who will be spending a large part of the winter here. It is great to have so many enthusiastic people around, and we need more. More people, but no pets please! With the construction of the new capture facility coming up any day, we need people NOW!!! We welcome anyone who wants to spend their days watching buffalo, cooking meals, splitting wood, and doing the many activities that make Buffalo Nations a reality.

The only way we can save these buffalo from a sad fate at the end of a gun is to rally as much support as possible! This country does not want to watch our precious and wild herd of bison be lost forever. Please tell as many people as possible to write letters and form local bison support groups in your community. Submit comments on the long-term plan for the capture facility to the Forest Service until Dec. 1. Write letters to the editor of your local paper and send us copies for our regional papers. Start your own group and keep in touch with us here, because we have plenty of ideas for what you can do to help!

Buffalo Nations P.O. Box 957 West Yellowstone, Mt. 59758 Phone (406)646-0070 Fax (406)646-0071 E-mail buffalo@wildrockies.org

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Buffalo Nations
PO Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT
59758 406-646-0070
phone 406-646-0071 fax
buffalo@wildrockies.org
http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo