Nearly 300 bison that wandered out of Yellowstone National Park were slaughtered by the state of Montana this past spring.

But nearly 600 calves have been born since, putting the total population in the park at around 4,200, a record high. Last year, the population was about 4,000.

Under a plan approved by the Clinton administration, the state of Montana can shoot bison that leave the park. State officials fear the animals will transmit brucellosis, a deadly disease, to cattle.

Tribes and environmental groups oppose the slaughter. The bison in the park are descendants of the last free-roaming herd in the nation.

Get the Story:
Yellowstone's bison set record for population (The Billings Gazette 12/7)

Relevant Links:
Inter-Tribal Bison Cooperative - http://www.intertribalbison.org Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee - http://www.nps.gov/gyibc/home.htm

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