Montana Department
of Livestock Shoots Bull Buffalo
on Yellowstone National Park Boundary
For Immediate Release: November 25, 2003
Contact: Justine Sanchez (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 you could see him writhing in pain 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.
Members of 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.