BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN (BFC)
P.O. BOX 957
WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT 59758
406-646-0070 (PH)
406-646-0071 (FX)
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
POLICE BLOODY & ARREST FIELD WORKERS FILMING BISON HAZE ON PUBLIC LANDS
Exclusive BFC Video & Photos Available Upon Request
For Immediate Release: May 9, 2007
Contact: Stephany Seay (406) 646-0070
WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA. Two members of the Buffalo Field Campaign
(BFC) were arrested today Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) and U.S.
Forest Service law enforcement. One BFC volunteer was taken to the
hospital due to injuries caused during arrest.
The volunteers were arrested for exercising their civil rights
attempting to document today's Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) and
Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) bison hazing operations.
The first volunteer arrested had witnessed the DOL and other agents
hazing wild bison across U.S. Highway 191. Highway patrols failed to
warn motorists or shut down traffic. Chased by agents on horseback and a
helicopter, another group of bison were close to crossing the road the
BFC volunteer urged a Montana Highway Patrolman to shut down the highway
and warn traffic. The MHP responded to the volunteer's request by
arresting him in the heated exchange.
The second BFC volunteer was arrested after attempting to document the
first volunteer's arrest. The MHP attempted to take the camera away and
forcibly placed the volunteer into handcuffs, slammed him to the ground,
injuring his face. U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer assisted
the MHP officer with the arrests. The two arresting officers confiscated
two Buffalo Field Campaign video cameras.
Last week, the same MHP officer was filmed being hostile and
aggressive to BFC volunteers documenting a bison hazing operation along
Hwy. 287. Video footage of this incident is available at
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org .
"Today's arrests were completely without warrant," said BFC volunteer
Jessie Patterson who witnessed the arrests of both volunteers.
"These officers acted in a violent way when the volunteers were well
within their rights to document government actions on public lands."
Government officials, including law enforcement, routinely attempt to
prevent BFC from filming bison hazing operations.
Freelance photographer, Barbara Michelman, was on the scene of the
arrests. A photo attached with this press release, or is immediately
available by contacting BFC.
Last night, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks held a public meeting in West
Yellowstone regarding Montana's infamous bison hunt and the
agency's involvement in the Interagency Bison Management Plan. Many BFC
members and residents of the community were present to voice
their opposition to the current mismanagement of wild bison.
"The rights of American citizens are being infringed upon and today's
behavior is utterly unacceptable and will be challenged," said BFC
spokeswoman Stephany Seay. "Government agencies are ignoring the voice
of the American people and acting as rogue entities who answer to no law
but their own."
The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL), Montana Fish, Wildlife &
Parks, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and U.S.D.A. Animal &
Plant Health Inspection Service, Gallatin County Sheriffs, and
Montana Highway Patrols all participated in today's bison hazing
operation.
The government agents harassed approximately 400 members of the
United State's last wild herd of bison within the Gallatin National
Forest today using horses and a helicopter. This is the bison's
calving season, a very sensitive time for the species. Pregnant
bison and day-old newborns, as well as other bison, were run off of
public land in an aggressive manner by agents on horseback and a DOL
helicopter. Wild bison were forced for over eight miles from the
northern tip of the Horse Butte Peninsula along the Madison River back
towards Yellowstone National Park.
One baby bison fell injured and sick from the aggressive and
relentless nature of today's hazing operation. The protective
mother was forced to charge a NPS hazer while he aggressively
approached them as her baby buffalo was attempting to nurse. The bison,
with numerous calves, were run for over 8 miles without rest, food or
water.
Hazing bison off of public lands runs contrary to a November 2006
agreement signed by all Interagency Bison Management Plan officials,
which is supposed to allow native wild bison access to public lands
though May 15. This is the third time in three weeks that the IBMP
agencies have ignored their agreement. The IBMP adaptations
memorandum can be viewed at:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/legal/adaptivemanagement.html .
The purported reason for the government's aggressive management of wild
bison is the perceived threat of the cattle-born disease,
brucellosis. There has never been a documented case of wild bison
transmitting the European livestock disease brucellosis to livestock,
even prior to implementation of Interagency Bison Management Plan.
American Bison once spanned the continent, numbering between 30 and 50
million. The Yellowstone bison are genetically unique and are
America's only continuously wild herd, numbering fewer than 3,600
animals, .01 percent of the bison's former population.
1,912 bison have been killed since 2000 under the Interagency Bison
Management Plan. Last winter Federal and State agencies killed or
authorized the killing of more than 1,010 bison. So far this winter two
bison were captured and sent to slaughter by Montana Department of
Livestock agents and hunters have killed 58.
Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in the field,
every day, to stop the slaughter of the wild Yellowstone buffalo.
Volunteers defend the buffalo and their native habitat and advocate for
their lasting protection. BFC has proposed real alternatives to the
current mismanagement of Yellowstone bison that can be viewed at
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/solutions05.html . For more
information, video clips and photos visit:
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org .
Media & Outreach
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
BFC is the only group working in the field every day
to defend the last wild herd of buffalo in America.
Sally
http://www.pareeste.org
Defending Those Who Cannot Defend Themselves
http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/ - DDB Rep Puerto Rico
