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MARCH 16, 2001

For the first winter in two years, bison in the Yellowstone National Park will be slaughtered for testing positive for brucellosis, said the Montana Department of Livestock on Thursday.

Two bison will be slaughtered for testing positive. The disease can be transmitted from female bison to cows although no case has ever been recorded in the wild.

It was unclear from the Associated Press report if the two were female. The National Park Service acknowledges that Montana officials have killed both male and female bison.

Brucellosis can cause domestic cattle to abort and can cause undulant fever in humans. Some 3,000 bison have been slaughtered to protect Montana's brucellosis free status, says the NPS.

Get the Story:
Bison protesters arrested in year’s first bison capture (AP 3/16)

Relevant Links:
Honor the Earth - http://www.honorearth.org
Montana Department of Livestock - http://www.liv.state.mt.us

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