Yellowstone Bison Plan: Another Step Towards Protecting an American Icon

GARDINER, MT – Today, the National Park Service announced it has completed an environmental review, allowing it to form agreements with tribal leaders and the State of Montana to begin its bison quarantine and translocation program. The program calls for holding some bison in secure pastures and testing the animals to ensure they are free of the disease, brucellosis. Disease-free bison may then be used to augment or create public and tribal herds to further the conservation of the species where appropriate.

Statement by Bart Melton, Northern Rockies Regional Director for National Parks Conservation Association

“We commend the National Park Service for working in good faith with the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of Fort Peck to finalize this win-win program, which will support tribal conservation efforts and reduce the number of Yellowstone bison killed each year. The commonsense and science-backed program will allow for a better future for these animals – one that does not end at the slaughterhouse.

“American bison are our national mammal, symbols of our National Park Service and represent an important conservation success. We have come a long way since wild populations plummeted to around 20 in the early 1900s. Today’s announcement serves as the next step towards continuing this proud legacy of North American wildlife conservation.”

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About National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its 1.3 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.