National Park Service eases on removals of Yellowstone bison


A bull bison in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Daniel Mayer via Wikipedia

Tribal, state and federal officials met on Thursday to discuss bison management plans at Yellowstone National Park.

But participants decided not to set a goal for the number of bison to be removed from the park this winter, The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported. The National Park Service was targeting 1,000 while tribes suggested lower numbers.

“What we’re saying here is everyone is willing to strive to a decreasing population,” Tom McDonald, a wildlife manager for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana, told the paper.

The agency also said it would delay trapping until February 15, 2016, the paper reported, at the request of tribes with treaty rights in and around Yellowstone. The tribes have not formally accepted that proposal, the paper said.

Removals are allowed as some of the bison leave the park in search of food and in response to environmental and other conditions within park boundaries. About 5,000 are living in Yellowstone -- the peak population is considered to be about 3,000.

Get the Story:
Park softens on bison slaughter targets; tribes push for later trapping (The Bozeman Daily Chronicle 11/20)

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