BISON ACTIVITY IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced today that bison have continued to migrate near Stephens Creek along the northern boundary of the park, and capture operations have begun as part of the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP). The IBMP, signed in December 2000, brings together three federal and two state agencies whose goals are to preserve a viable, wild population of Yellowstone bison; reduce the risk of transmission of brucellosis from bison to cattle, maintain the brucellosis class-free status for the state of Montana; and protect human life and/or private property. The agencies involved in IBMP include the U.S. Department of Interior's National Park Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the State of Montana's Departments of Livestock and Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Under the IBMP, a variety of methods are used along the north and west boundaries of the park to manage the distribution of bison and to maintain separation of bison and cattle on public and private lands. The IBMP also allows for some bison to remain on certain public lands adjacent to the park where cattle are not grazed.

In the first phase of management, the park hazes bison approaching the north boundary to keep them inside the park and away from cattle grazing adjacent to the park. However, after attempts at hazing the bison become ineffective and unsafe, it may become necessary to begin capturing the animals. Hazing has occurred over the past several weeks on numerous occasions. Hazing will continue when feasible, but capture operations may also continue.

On Monday, March 1, 2004, 42 of the 71 bison captured on Saturday, February 28, were tested for exposure to brucellosis (the remaining 29 bison will be tested for exposure to brucellosis on March 2). Twenty-six of the 42 bison tested negative for exposure to brucellosis and are being temporarily held at the Stephens Creek facility for release back into the park in the spring. As called for in the IBMP, 11 bison (yearlings and calves) were vaccinated as part of a long-term brucellosis vaccination program. The remaining 16 bison tested positive for exposure to brucellosis and have been consigned to the State of Montana for transport to slaughter. Meat, heads and hides of bison taken to slaughter will be donated to Native American groups/individuals or social service organizations.

For 2004, a total of 160 bison have been captured at the Stephens Creek facility. To date, the total number of bison that have tested seronegative and remain at the Stephens Creek facility is 62 (35 vaccinated); the total number of animals taken to slaughter is 69.

An early winter count showed approximately 4,200 bison in the population.

Information provided by the NPS