Bison Belong
Yellowstone is the only remaining home for truly wild, genetically pure bison with an unbroken connection to their native habitat. When the buffalo slaughter of the late 1800s ended, only 23 bison remained in the wild, and Yellowstone was their sanctuary. Numbering 4,700 today, Yellowstone's herd has irreplaceable biological, cultural, spiritual and historic value. Sadly, today we are experiencing a second bison slaughter in America. Just two winters ago, over 900 migrating bison were stopped at the park's border and shipped to slaughter. This is a national travesty and an embarrassment to the National Park System. NPCA is working to end the annual slaughter through increasing the amount of winter habitat available to them outside Yellowstone.
Why are Yellowstone's bison slaughtered?
Bison can carry a bovine disease called brucellosis, which poses little risk to them, but can cause cattle to abort. Although there has never been a recorded transmission of brucellosis from wild bison to cattle, the state of Montana claims that bison with brucellosis pose a threat to its cattle. For this reason bison, unlike other wildlife, are not allowed to enter Montana.
During the winter and early spring months, when bison exit Yellowstone's boundaries in search of food, the Montana Department of Livestock routinely captures them and sends them to slaughter. Nearly 3,000 bison have been slaughtered over the past decade.
What YOU Can Do To Help:
Learn More about bison >>
Get the facts about NPCA's campaign to protect Yellowstone bison >>
For more information on NPCA's Bison Belong Campaign and our work with the Greater Yellowstone Wildlife Alliance, contact Tony Jewett, Senior Regional Director, Northern Rockies Region; 406.495.1560 or tjewett@npca.org.
