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WEST YELLOWSTONE State nabs 29 bison, 2 protesters By JOE KOLMAN Gazette Bozeman Bureau WEST YELLOWSTONE - The largest bison capture operation of the year occurred early Wednesday morning as state Department of Livestock agents corralled 29 Yellowstone National Park buffalo at a facility near here. The operation resulted in the arrests of two activists opposed to the action and sparked accusations that the state violated Forest Service regulations by running snowmobiles too close to bald eagle nests. Arrested were 19-year-old Jamie Blakely of Georgia and Steven Shaffer, 37, from Minnesota. Both are being held in the Gallatin County Detention Center. Blakely locked her neck to a cattle guard with a bike lock in an attempt to block transport of the bison from the new Horse Butte corral northwest of town to the Duck Creek facility, where the animals are tested for exposure to the disease brucellosis. Shaffer was arrested while attempting to lock gates at the Duck Creek pen. While protesters said state agents came closer to a bald eagle nest than the quarter mile stipulated by the Forest Service, an official for the agency in West Yellowstone said interviews with agents on the scene proved different. "We feel pretty comfortable that they did not violate any terms or conditions of the permit," said Claude Coffin. Under an interim bison management plan, buffalo testing positive for brucellosis, which causes cattle to abort their young, are shipped to slaughter. Those testing negative are released. So far this year, 27 bison have been destroyed with the meat going to Indian groups or charitable organizations. While any capturing of Yellowstone bison is controversial, action at the Horse Butte facility is proving even more so. Earlier this year, the Forest Service granted the state permission to build on public land over protests that hazing and capture operations would disrupt nesting habits of bald eagles in the area. A Forest Service report said the pen would likely affect bald eagles, could displace grizzly bears and could serve as a lightening rod for those opposed to the way bison are being managed. At least the latter prediction proved true Wednesday as environmental groups railed against the state's action. "Obviously, when the DOL decides they want to kill buffalo, all protections for other wildlife fall to the wayside," said Sue Nackoney, a spokeswoman for Buffalo Field Campaign, which has been protesting state operations all winter long and took credit for releasing five bison from the Duck Creek pen Tuesday night. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Fund for Animals also issued statements condemning the state for capturing bison at Horse Butte. But the Forest Service report also predicted that the Horse Butte pen could reduce the number of bison killed in the area. In winters past, bison that could not be hazed back into the park or captured have been shot. While Livestock Department officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday, in prior statements they have said increased hazing and capturing has resulted in less killing this winter. Keeping bison away from cattle and the land they will eventually graze is important, state officials say, because even the smallest risk of cattle contracting brucellosis could seriously damage the livestock industry. The number of bison killed this year has been less than some expected. The state reported killing 11 bison last winter, which was relatively mild by Montana standards. This winter, however, was expected to be quite harsh and some feared a mass exodus of many of the more than 2,000 bison that spend most of their time in the park. That is what happened two winters ago, when more than 1,100 bison where shot or shipped to slaughter. What has increased dramatically this year is the criticism of the state by environmental groups, federal agency officials and local residents as well as the number of arrests of protesters. "Montana is ignoring lab results, pleas from citizens, advice from the federal government and worst of all, on-the-ground changes that are keeping buffalo and cattle separated, which removes any justification for slaughter," said the Greater Yellowstone Coalition's Mike Clark. Including Wednesday's arrests, there have been charges relating to interfering with state agents filed against at least 10 Buffalo Field Campaign members. None of the misdemeanor cases have gone to trial yet. Nackoney, who was pulled down from a tripod blocking the road to the Duck Creek pen in January, is scheduled to be tried in May. Chuck Watson, the Bozeman attorney who agreed to represent the protesters free of charge, said recently he was surprised by the number of arrests. "I had no idea they were going to rack up this number of cases," Watson said, adding that he would not represent Donald Fontenot, who was arrested on drug charges during a protest earlier this month. Fontenot recently left the group for violating a policy that members do not use drugs or alcohol. "It's just not related to the protest," Watson said. "He might be the nicest guy in the world, but I don't have time to represent him."
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