Lawsuit to Halt Yellowstone Bison Cull to Proceed

If Park Service Proceeds with Cull, It Will Be Under Public Scrutiny

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media@aldf.org

Casper, Wyoming – Journalist Chris Ketcham and bison advocate Stephany Seay said they will continue to fight the planned Yellowstone National Park bison cull in court after the U.S. District Court in Wyoming today denied their motion for a preliminary injunction to stay the cull until their case is resolved and meaningful access to observe the cull can be granted. Ketcham and Seay are represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), University of Denver constitutional law professors, and Jamie M. Woolsey of the private Wyoming law firm Fuller, Sandefer & Associates, L.L.C.

Ketcham and Seay filed suit on January 26 to gain access to the controversial trapping operations that lead to the slaughter of hundreds of bison. Their suit argues that the First Amendment guarantees citizens and journalists reasonable, non-disruptive access to the publicly funded national park. The capture and kill operation is scheduled to start February 15.

“Although we are disappointed in this outcome, we recognize that courts frequently refer to preliminary injunction as an ‘extraordinary remedy’ and that we were fighting an uphill battle,” said ALDF attorney Stefanie Wilson. “This does not mean the case is closed, the case will continue to move forward in the court. If the Park Service chooses to proceed with the cull, thanks to increasing public awareness, it will be with a great deal of scrutiny.”