West Yellowstone, MT- For the second time in two weeks the Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) and county, state, and federal agencies have targeted bull bison for lethal management.

At 8:30 this morning, agents with the DOL, the Gallatin County Sheriffs Department, Montana Highway Patrol, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and the National Park Service began hazing and capturing bison from three separate locations near West Yellowstone. Using ATVs, snowmobiles, and horses, agents captured 2 bison and hazed ten others to the Park.

The first bison, a bull that had been grazing less than a mile outside the invisible Park boundaries, was hazed into the Duck Creek capture facility shortly after 9am. A second bull - whom the DOL refer to as "Bob" - short for bobtail because he has the distinguishing mark of no tail - was hazed 4.5 miles from National Forest land at Red Canyon into the Duck Creek trap. Head of MDOL operations, Rob Tierney, expressed awareness that this bull has been captured and tested negative for brucellosis repeatedly in the past three years but chose to capture him and perform the test anyway.

Ten other buffalo were hazed from National Forest lands on the Horse Butte Peninsula and into the Park. Local Forest Service personnel said they weren't notified of today's operations and were unaware they were taking place. Like last week, concerned citizens and media representatives were prohibited from witnessing or documenting the operations.

Prior to today's operations there were less than 30 bison outside the park. The current Bison Management Plan allows for the presence of up to 100 bison in the West Yellowstone area. Under the plan, all captured bison are to be tested for brucellosis antibodies. All pregnant cows and positive-testing bison are to be slaughtered.

The test, which determines the presence of antibodies and not infection, is an unreliable indicator according to Su Gregerson, "If you've ever had chickenpox then your blood contains chickenpox antibodies. But does that mean you have chickenpox?" Disease control experts consider bulls "low-risk" and doesn't see the need for them to be killed. There has never been a documented case of brucellosis transmission from wild bison to livestock.

"From a brucellosis-control standpoint, today's operation makes no sense," said West Yellowstone local, Doug Fejes, "What threat could these bulls pose when there will be no cattle in the area until June?"

"The operation today not only reflects flagrant intolerance for the bison and disrespect for the entire ecosystem, but a tremendous waste of resources," stated BFC volunteer, Meghan Gill. The new annual budget for the Bison Management scheduled by the State of Montana, alone, is over one million in taxpayer dollars (source: http://www.liv.state.mt.us/BISON/FY2002BUDGET.HTM).

Today's capture operations mark the second time in as many weeks that the DOL has targeted bull bison for lethal management. Last Wednesday, November 28, the DOL shot and killed a lone bull at on Forest Service lands.

The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only grassroots 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 longterm protection.

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