Bison Control Plan Offered By Racicot

Montana Gov. Marc Racicot wants long-term management of Yellowstone National Park bison to combine brucellosis testing, slaughter, vaccination and some public hunting.

His proposal would require some sacrifice by both wildlife advocates and the beef industry, but not by snowmobilers who use cleared park trails that have been blamed for helping bison migrate out of the park.

Officials are reviewing alternative long-range management schemes in the wake of controversy surrounding last winter’s handling of park bison.

State and federal workers killed or shipped to slaughter more than 1,100 animals that wandered out of Yellowstone last winter in search of food. Some carry brucellosis, which causes cows to abort their calves.

Some parts of Racicot’s proposal are still being developed, but the plan would set up a facility to capture and test bison for brucellosis inside the park as well as at an existing facility near Gardiner. Those exposed to the disease would be killed, and the others would be freed.

Once an effective vaccine is developed, bison that test positive could be vaccinated and released.

Among other provisions, a “fair chase” hunt would be set up in the Eagle Creek-Bear Creek area northeast of Gardiner and on public land near West Yellowstone if the Montana legislature approved.