Today was a beautiful day for the buffalo. Agents looked in vain for a bull to harrass south of the Madison Arm of Hebgen Lake. A mother and calf were found and hazed by the local Department of Livestock Agent, Jim Bridger, but quickly and easily evaded his lone ranger efforts. Then: strike three. While still in the field, our friends back at the cabin radioed out that the helicopter that has been torturing these buffalo was put under a 14 day injunction to cease all hazing operations in the entire Hebgen Basin.
It came as a result of a law suit by the Alliance for Wild Rockies with evidence provided by BFC regarding the bison-hazing helicopter's displacement on grizzly bears, an endangered species. The injunction was passed by a judge who came out of retirement specifically to pass judgement on cases regarding livestock interests. The case made by livestock representatives could not possibly hold water in the face of so much overwhelming evidence of grizzly activity at the same time as helicopter use to haze buffalo. This is the first ever legal victory for the BFC and for the buffalo, and an important one for all plant, animal, and human residents of the Hebgen Basin.
The injunction can be renewed, but hazing operations are expected to be over this season before the end of the injunction. This makes hazing of buffalo off Horse Butte impossible without trespassing because ALL residents on Horse Butte want buffalo on their land. The helicopter is used on the Butte because airspace above private property is not property of the land owner. This will give the lawsuit a chance to pan out in the coming 12 months before next season's haze begins. If the helicopter can be grounded permanently, it could mean the beginning of the end for the hazing, slaughter, and harassment of buffalo.
TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!
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