Wild bison slaughtered to protect cattle

Yellowstone National Park officials say they have rounded up and slaughtered 264 wild bison -- the most in seven years -- in an attempt to protect cattle from disease.

An additional 198 bison are corralled until spring when they will be released. But the pen is full, so 57 animals were killed without testing for disease, according to the park service.

Bison wander beyond park boundaries in winter to find food, leading to conflicts with ranchers. Bison can carry brucellosis, a bacterium that infects elk and cattle. It causes pregnant females to abort and can cause fever in people, though the meat is safe if cooked properly.

The Montana-based Buffalo Field Campaign objects to the slaughter. “We should start calling it Yellowstone National Ranch,” said Dan Brister, a spokesman for the group.

Park service officials say they are bound by an agreement with Montana to prevent buffalo from crossing into the state from Yellowstone’s western and northern borders. State and federal authorities have captured 464 bison inside Yellowstone to protect about 180 cows grazing on nearby lands. About 4,200 bison inhabit the park.

--Rebecca Huntington