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Agriculture secretary splashed with bison entrails
March 24, 1997
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EST (1730 GMT)
GARDINER, Montana (CNN) -- An animal rights activist angry at the killing of more than 1,000 bison near Yellowstone National Park splashed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and other top officials with rotting bison entrails Sunday.
Protester Delyla Wilson rushed into a high school cafeteria in Gardiner, near Yellowstone National Park, where Glickman, Montana Governor Marc Racicot and Montana's two U.S. senators, Democrat Max Baucus and Republican Conrad Burns, were holding a meeting with residents to discuss the bison controversy.
Wilson, her face painted a variety of colors, ran into the room with a five-gallon bucket containing rotting bison innards and seemed intent on dumping the bucket over Racicot.
But an aide to Burns caught her by the arm and the foul- smelling offal went over a table in front of the officials, splashing all four of them. Racicot and Glickman were splashed the most, but no one was injured.
"I won't forget this meeting for a long time. It's a tough job being secretary of agriculture," Glickman said.
Wilson, a member of the newly formed Bison Action Group, was charged with misdemeanor assault Sunday night and released on a $500 bond.
The meeting resumed after Glickman, Racicot and the two senators had cleaned themselves.
The controversy focuses on the practice of shooting bison that wander north looking for food outside Yellowstone National Park. The National Park Service says 1,074 bison have been killed this winter under a policy designed to stop the possible spread of disease to cattle. Ranchers fear the bison could spread brucellosis to cattle.
Earlier this week, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt asked the state to stop shooting stray bison while a study is done on whether they really pose a threat to cattle.
Glickman told the crowd of about 500 people he would try to find a solution. A proposal for a long-term approach to the problem is expected to be released in July.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
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- Bison slaughter continues despite protests, prayers - March 7, 1997
- Politicians, ranchers battle over bison slaughter - February 28, 1997
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