Men Protesting Bison Slaughter Arrested

Sun., Jan. 10, 1999

From Staff

Two people have been arrested for interfering with efforts to move Yellowstone National Park bison to a slaughterhouse.

The protest group Buffalo Nations said it planned more civil disobedience.

Group co-founder Michael Mease was arrested Friday after he used a bicycle lock to attach himself to the back of a stock trailer heading for the Montana Department of Livestock’s bison trap.

The trailer later was loaded with bison and left the area.

About 5 miles away, Buffalo Nations member Eric Peterson pulled onto the highway in the middle of the convoy escorting the trailer, Bowersox said. He, too, was arrested on a charge of obstructing a police officer and released after posting bond.

State Veterinarian Arnold Gertonson said eight bison were sent to a slaughterhouse in Sheridan Friday. Two others were marked with dye and released in the Horse Butte area because they tested negative for exposure to brucellosis.

Earlier this week, the Montana Board of Livestock said it will consider switching to a more lenient definition of exposure, a change that could save the lives of many of the bison.

Brucellosis causes domestic cattle to abort and can result in undulant fever in humans.

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