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DECEMBER 8, 2000

A Yellowstone National Park official on Thursday said the federal government and the state of Montana have reached a tentative agreement on the management of bison that live in the park.

A key component of the plan is how to keep bison from passing brucellosis to cattle. While environmentalists say there has never been a case of transmission, as many as 1,500 bison that have wandered outside the park have been shot by state officials to prevent such an occurence.

The new plan's preferred course of action would allow for a larger bison population of 3,000. It also allows for shooting of bison but only after efforts to herd the animals back into the park have failed.

A final decision will be announced on December 15.

Get the Story:
Feds expect bison agreement with Montana (The Billings Gazette 12/8)

Get the Bison Environmental Impact Statement:
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Interagency Bison Management Plan for the State of Montana and the Yellowstone National Park (NPS August 2000)

Related Stories:
State releases bison plan (Enviro 11/17)
Bison face threat from wolves (Enviro 10/16)
The Future of the Yellowstone Buffalo (Winona LaDuke. Honor the Earth 2000)
Comments on bison slaughter extended (Enviro 10/3)