Montana Prepares for Public Hunt of Yellowstone Bison

BOZEMAN, Montana, July 9, 2004 (ENS) – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is planning to let members of the public kill Yellowstone bison that move outside the national park boundaries. The Yellowstone bison are the last genetically pure wild remnants of the millions of bison that once roamed the American plains. The state agency has produced an environmental assessment that evaluates the proposed bison hunt. The 30 day public comment period on the hunt closed Thursday. The 2003 Montana Legislature approved a bill that provides for a public hunt of the bison in southwestern Montana. The Yellowstone bison are controlled by a federal-state management program to keep them from passing the abortive disease brucellosis to Montana cattle, although no such transmission has ever been documented. State and federal agencies now haze and kill the bison, male and female alike, although only females can transmit brucellosis. "Public responses to our scoping document issued in February were evenly divided between respondents in favor of hunting, and those opposing hunting," said Kurt Alt, regional wildlife manager. "At this point we would like to gather the public's opinions of the four alternatives contained in the environmental assessment." The four alternatives include a no hunting […]

Read More