AR-News: (U.S.- Mt.) Yellowstone buffalo killing questioned

[Mary Finelli]

BUFFALO KILL TO CONTROL DISEASE QUESTIONED
Environmental Groups Dispute Risk to Cattle
The Washington Post, Juliet Eilperin, March 26, 2004; Page A03

complete article (w/photo) at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A25031-2004Mar25


For most Americans, buffaloes are icons of an era when much of America was 
wild and unspoiled. But to state and federal park officials around 
Yellowstone National Park, the bison also represent the threat of 
brucellosis, a disease that causes both buffaloes and cattle to 
spontaneously abort their young. In an effort to protect susceptible cows on 
ranches bordering the park, park rangers have been shooting a growing number 
of the buffaloes that each winter wander out of the park in search of food.

So far this year, National Park Service and Montana Department of Livestock 
employees have shot 278 of the roughly 4,200 wild buffaloes that roam the 
park's confines. The program -- a boon to neighboring cattle owners and a 
bane to environmentalists -- has been in place for nearly a decade. But as 
the number of dead bison mount, criticism of the practice has grown.

"If people knew what's going on in Montana they would be appalled," said 
Buffalo Field Campaign spokesman Ted Fellman, whose group that has 
documented the roundup in an effort to halt it.

_________________________________________________________________
Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfee® 
Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963