Nearly 90 bison captured this winter

By SCOTT McMILLION, Chronicle Staff Writer

Dozens more bison have been captured in Yellowstone National Park, a spokeswoman there said Wednesday.

Between 42 and 45 animals were rounded up late Tuesday, adding to the 12 caught earlier in the day, Cheryl Matthews said Wednesday. That brings this winter's total capture to 87 to 90 animals.

"They are testing them and sorting them now," she said.

The trap is in the Stephens Creek area northwest of Gardiner. All animals captured there are being tested for exposure to the disease brucellosis. Animals that test negative will be held until spring. Animals that test positive will be shipped to slaughter.

In addition, calves and yearlings that aren't pregnant and show no signs of the disease will be vaccinated and eartagged before they are released.

The National Park Service captured 33 animals Saturday. Of them, 26 have tested positive for exposure to the disease and were loaded onto trucks and hauled away Wednesday.

The remaining six animals will be held until spring.

The same procedure is being used on the animals captured Tuesday, Matthews said.

The park's trap and adjacent corrals is big enough to hold 125 bison.

This is the second winter in a row -- after a hiatus of several years -- that large numbers of bison have approached or left the park's north border.

Last year, 230 were killed.

The policy, spelled out in a 4-year-old state/federal bison management plan, doesn't sit well with some people.

"The park is supposed to be a sanctuary for wildlife, not a slaughterhouse," said Dan Brister, spokesman for the Buffalo Field Campaign, a protest group.

Bison movements have been comparatively small so far on the park's west side, where the Montana Department of Livestock operates two traps.

The park's bison herd numbers about 4,200 animals, which is at or near record levels.

Scott McMillion is at scottm@dailychronicle.com

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