West Yellowstone, MT- Four bull bison, considered "low risk" by APHIS--the agency responsible for designating a state as "brucellosis-free"--were the focus of Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) operations on the Gallatin National Forest today.

In its 1998 study, Brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the National Academy of Sciences concluded, "The current risk of transmission from YNP bison to cattle is low." There has never been a documented transmission of brucellosis from wild bison to livestock. Even if buffalo were capable of spreading brucellosis, the lack of cattle between mid-October and mid-June make transmission impossible. The cattle that stock the summer grazing allotments on Horse Butte are shipped in from Idaho.

"Montana is killing America's last wild buffalo in the name of protecting a few Idaho cattle," said BFC spokesperson Dan Brister. All 18 bison killed this winter were bulls, which are not capable of transmitting brucellosis. APHIS considers bulls "low risk" and says their presence in the state will not jeopardize Montana's brucellosis-free status. "These agencies are wasting 2.8 million taxpayer dollars this winter on unnecessary operations," said Brister. "Scientists acknowledge that bulls can't transmit brucellosis yet the DOL insists on harassing every bull that steps across the park line."

The operation began shortly after 8am on Wednesday. Agents from the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, Montana Highway Patrol, the Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department assisted the DOL in hazing three bison from National Forest land into Yellowstone National Park. A lone bull was hazed from the Horse Butte Peninsula into the Horse Butte bison trap. Five other bulls avoided capture by taking cover in a heavily timbered area of the peninsula.

Horse Butte provides crucial winter range for Yellowstone wildlife, including moose, elk, deer, coyotes, gray wolves, bald eagles and trumpeter swans. Bald eagles were observed in the air during the operation. The brucellosis test used by the DOL to determine whether to slaughter or release captured animals detects antibodies, not infection.

The majority of the bison that test "positive" and are killed don't actually carry brucellosis. Most bison that test positive at the capture facility test negative under the more accurate post-slaughter necropsy.

The Buffalo Field Campaign volunteers defend the buffalo on their native range and advocate for their protection.

Video and Digital Still Photos are Available on Request.

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