West Yellowstone, MT- A Department of Livestock (DOL) helicopter flew low over the Horse Butte area today and hazed two bull bison into the capture facility there. The bison are bulls and considered a "low risk" for brucellosis transmission. Eight agents from the DOL, Gallatin National Forest, and Yellowstone National Park assisted on snowmobiles. Officers from the Gallatin County Sheriff, National Park Service and USFS also assisted in patrol cars.

BFC spokesperson Peter Leusch characterized the operation as, "Another huge waste of taxpayer dollars to capture bison that are unable to transmit brucellosis, especially since there are no cows in the area in the winter." Several homeowners in the Yellowstone Village subdivision on the north side of Horse Butte filed complaints with the Gallatin County Sheriff's office and FAA in Helena concerning the helicopter.

This is the second week in a row that the DOL's helicopter has flown low over the subdivision to haze bison. One of the complainants, Horse Butte resident and Wildlife Rehabilitator Sue Donkersgoed said, "The helicopter disturbed our animals and our neighbors, as well as the wildlife in the area. It's just preposterous that they are flying that thing over a residential area." The helicopter also flew over the Madison River just west of Yellowstone.

Many wildlife species including elk, moose, bald eagles, trumpeter swans and wolves rely on this area for winter survival. Disturbances such as today's are life threatening to all wildlife in winter. Twenty-two bulls have been captured this winter with sixteen of those slaughtered after testing positive for exposure to brucellosis. The field test has been proven to be highly inaccurate though, as culture tests show only 15% of bison slaughtered in the past actually have brucellosis.

According to recent genetic studies, management strategies that do not take sex ratios into account can lead to decreased levels of genetic variation, inbreeding and numerous other problems. Because bison herds are generally led by the older members of the group, removal of older bulls-like those captured this week-can negatively impact social structure and social bonds and have permanent harmful effects on the population.

Peter Leusch said, "This management strategy is obviously threatening the long-term survival of the Yellowstone bison. They are a national treasure and the only genetically pure descendants of over 60 million bison that once roamed this continent. Our government seems intent on destroying these bison, even though the first stated goal of their management plan is to preserve a healthy, free-roaming bison herd."

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

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