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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest
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The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| JANUARY
13, 1999 4:18 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Buffalo Nations Sue Nackoney 406-646-0070 buffalo@wildrockies.org |
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| Montana Department of Livestock Captures 10 More Buffalo; Buffalo Nations Calls for Killing to Stop Immediately | ||||
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WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT - January 13 - Today the Department of Livestock hazed eight bull buffalo from Red Canyon,
forced them to run 8 miles back towards Yellowstone Park, and pushed them into
the Duck Creek Capture facility. Two more hungry buffalo who had been hazed into
the park in a prior DOL hazing operation were lured into facility today prior to
the hazing operation.
The eight buffalo were eating piles of hay that were left in Red Canyon by the landowner, Mike Manship. The piles have attracted numerous bison and over 100 elk to the canyon. APHIS has stated its willingness to accept the presence of bison who pose a low risk for brucellosis transmission for up to 60 days prior to the return of cattle to the area. These low risk animals are defined as untested bulls, yearlings, calves and non-pregnant females. There are no cattle in the conflict zone west of the park until June. The presence of brucellosis exposed buffalo in the state is not cause for revocation of Montana's brucellosis free status under APHIS guidelines. Patrick Collins, director of legislative and public affairs for APHIS said that their agency has been working with state vets from other states to insure that these states do not impose sanctions against Montana beef. He stated, "If they don't have a scientific basis (for threatening sanctions), we've been pretty successful in getting them to back off." (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Saturday, January 9). The state Board of Livestock will meet January 21-22 in Helena to consider a policy of leniency towards "low risk" bison. Seven of the eight buffalo slaughtered on Friday were bulls, who are considered low risk. All of the buffalo captured today are also bulls. "Why is the state of Montana so stubbornly insistent that they have a right to kill these buffalo? Every indication shows that the Montana livestock industry will not be hurt by allowing buffalo to enter the state, yet they continue their illogical practices of killing. The Department of Livestock should not be allowed to manage the Greater Yellowstone bison herd," said Buffalo Nations spokesperson Sue Nackoney. The Department of Livestock continues to bait buffalo from Yellowstone Park into the capture facility. Buffalo Nations volunteers attempted numerous times to prevent the two buffalo from entering the facility, but the buffalo finally bolted past them in order to reach the hay. When the Department of Livestock puts hay in the facility, buffalo who are a half mile back in the park smell the hay and are almost unstoppable as they walk into the facility. "After witnessing over 10 of the DOL hazing efforts where they have spent thousands of tax dollars, it seems ironic to watch the same agency bait these same animals back out of the park to their capture facility located on the park's border," stated Michael Mease of Buffalo Nations. On Friday, January 8, the Department of Livestock killed 8 buffalo that it captured at its Duck Creek Capture facility. Three Buffalo Nations volunteers were arrested for non-violently attempting to stop the transport of the bison to the slaughterhouse. "Buffalo Nations will be here to stand with these buffalo until they are free to live on their winter habitat without being chased, captured, or killed. Until this happens, many of us feel in our hearts that non-violent direct action is the only way to stop this senseless tragedy," said Michael Bowersox, Buffalo Nations spokesperson. Buffalo Nations and the local community will be holding a vigil for the captive buffalo at the base of Duck Creek Road on highway 191 (near intersection of rte 287) beginning at 7:00 a.m. ### For more information, contact: |
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