Rangers' badges carry an image of a bison, an animal the park rangers are dedicated to protect. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt has sharply criticized Montana state officials for months of waging war on buffalo wandering outside the park, killing or sending to slaughter 1,049 of the animals so far this winter. Montana officials contend that they have no choice but to kill the animals if they leave the park because of fear that they may spread disease to livestock.
Some bison carry brucellosis, a disease that causes cows to abort their calves.
But Sholly said he finds it especially offensive that Montana officials kill bison that wander onto land far from grazing stock. The protest badges have perked the curiosity of park visitors, he said. Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews said the park has received more than 1,000 letters from people across the nation expressing concern about the number of park bison killed as they leave Yellowstone.