Cattle industry vs. bison

Cattle industry attorneys asked a state judge to block a new agreement that would allow more bison to roam freely outside Yellowstone National Park.

In the last two decades, more than 5,000 bison leaving the park have been slaughtered by government agencies and shot by hunters, to prevent the spread of brucellosis to domestic cattle. The disease causes cows to miscarry.

An agreement reached Dec. 17 between Montana and federal agencies would let bison -- including some that carry the disease -- migrate to limited areas outside the park as long as cattle were not present.

The cattle industry says the pact puts livestock at risk. Industry attorneys asked state District Judge Loren Tucker of Virginia City to block a part of the agreement that would allow bison to roam west of Yellowstone.