Bison in Yellowstone National Park. Photo from Interagency Bison Management Plan

Between 600 to 900 bison will be removed or killed at Yellowstone National Park this winter, according to plans released on Tuesday.

Some bison will be taken during tribal and public hunts that occur outside of park boundaries. Others will be captured and sent to tribes for their use.

“Many people are uncomfortable with the practice of culling bison, including the National Park Service,” park Superintendent Dan Wenk said in a press release. “The park would gladly reduce the frequency and magnitude of these operations if migrating bison had access to more habitat outside the park or there was a way to transfer live bison elsewhere.”

The number of bison that will be removed or killed falls in line with a recommendation from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The tribe is a partner in the Interagency Bison Management Plan.

About 4,900 bison live within Yellowstone and some wander outside of park boundaries into Montana, where they can be killed due to concerns that they will transmit a deadly disease to cattle.

Get the Story:
Officials agree to slaughter 600 to 900 Yellowstone bison this winter (AP 1/6)
Bullock allows bison to roam outside Yellowstone (AP 12/22)

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