 A Herd of Bison Grazes
|
June 19, 2003 — The U.S. National Park Service recently sent 231 members of the bison herd kept in Yellowstone National Park to slaughterhouses to ensure the animals would not spread brucellosis, a bacterial disease that can prevent reproduction, to cows on nearby farms.
The action was taken after approximately 30 of the bison were discovered on private property while searching for food.
In accordance with the Interagency Bison Management Plan, to which the Montana Department of Livestock, the U.S. Forest Service and other government agencies are signatories, the 231 animals were not tested for brucellosis before being slaughtered.
|
 
|
|||||||
The Plan calls for testing before slaughter only if the number of bison in Yellowstone is less than 3,000. There currently are about 3,800 of the animals in the park.
"We cannot allow them to leave...and we cannot always keep them in," said Yellowstone spokesperson Marsha Karle.
"These animals have a right to exist," said Buffalo Field Campaign spokesperson Ted Fellman. "This is the only continuously free roaming herd of bison in the country. Yellowstone National Park should be a safe place for wildlife."
There is a vaccine for brucellosis, but it is not completely effective.
< news main
Name: American Bison (Bison bison)
Primary Classification: Bovidae (Cattle and Relatives) Location: Northwest Territories in Canada and Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Habitat: Mainly grasslands and meadows. Diet: Mainly grasses and grasslike plants. Also berries, lichens, and horsetails. Size: Up to 11 feet in length and 2,200 lbs in weight. Description: Long, shaggy, brownish-black hair on head, neck, shoulders and forelegs. Light brown, short hair on hindquarters. Large, heavy head. Broad forehead. Short, hollow, upturned horns. Straggly, bearded chin. Shoulder hump on males. Cool Facts: They are the largest mammals on the North American continent. Early explorers estimated the bison population at 60 million; by 1900, fewer than 1,000 remained, decimated by hunters. Conservation Status: Lower Risk (Conservation Dependent) Major Threat: Habitat loss. What Can I Do?: Visit the National Wildlife Federation's Buffalo page and Buffalo Field Campaign for information on how you can help. |
||
