West Yellowstone, MT- At 9:30 this morning, as state and federal officials were preparing to capture bison, a man identifying himself as "Coyote" blocked Forest Service road 610 to the Horse Butte bison capture facility. The man effectively closed the gate at the head of the road by locking his arms into two 55-gallon barrels on either side of the gate.

A large banner stating, "Bison Belong on National Forests" was unfurled near the blockade. Montana Department of Livestock, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks agents were in the area preparing to haze and capture bison at the Horse Butte trap.

At least sixteen law enforcement officers from the agencies were on site at the blockade. Officers closed the area to the public and the press and prohibited anyone from viewing the blockade or from coming within twenty feet of the 610 road.

BFC spokesperson Peter Leusch said of the blockade, "National Forest lands surrounding Yellowstone were originally set aside as wildlife habitat. The Horse Butte peninsula is perfect winter range for bison, and they should be able to use it."

The Horse Butte peninsula is also important winter habitat for many other species including elk, moose, bald eagles, wolves, and trumpeter swans. Bison management activities are potentially life threatening to wildlife as they disturb this habitat during the deadliest time of the year.

According to Leusch, "Every bison management operation not only puts the bison in jeopardy, but kills the other wildlife as well. The agencies are squandering our tax dollars, terrorizing our wildlife and placing the entire Yellowstone ecosystem at risk."

As the blockade was being cleared and Coyote arrested, agents on snowmobiles began a hazing operation along the Madison River. The agents attempted to haze six bison that were grazing along the river about a mile outside of Yellowstone over 5 miles to the capture facility at Horse Butte. Agents ran snowmobiles through tributaries and side channels of the river as the bison attempted to elude them during the operation, which lasted for several hours. At one point a snowmobile became submerged in the main channel of the Madison, while attempting to chase the bison that were fleeing south across the river.

Today's operation violated the Gallatin Forest Plan by using snowmobiles off designated trails along the Madison River.

According to the Forest Plan's provisions for protecting fish and game,

"Motorized vehicle use will not be permitted during the period December 1 through May 1, except on designated routes" (Forest Plan, Gallatin National Forest, III-44).

BFC volunteers have repeatedly videotaped such violations.

The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in the field, everyday, to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone's wild buffalo. Video and still photos available.

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