Matthew Brown, Associated Press Yahoo News 3 Apr 08;
A new government report has faulted state and federal bureaucracies for failing to stop the slaughter of bison leaving Yellowstone National Park — even as the number of animals killed this year set a new record.
Nearly 1,400 park bison have been killed since February, under a 2000 federal-state agreement meant to prevent the spread of a livestock disease to cattle ranches surrounding the park. The bison are captured as they migrate to lower elevations in search of food.
The report, by the Government Accountability Office, sharply criticized federal and state agencies for failing to expand the area where bison can freely roam outside the park as called for in the 2000 agreement.
That lack of progress occurred despite almost $16 million spent on bison management since 2002.
The GAO report was requested by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, D-WV, and Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-NY. The congressmen released a copy of the report Wednesday.
"It's been clear for some time now that the current (bison management plan) is not working," Rahall said in a statement. "Both federal and state agencies could and should do much, much more to protect these magnificent animals while still safeguarding the cattle industry."
The impact on the park's bison population has been dramatic. This year's slaughter has driven the population down by more than a third, from 4,700 animals last summer to an estimated 3,000 in a count released last week.
However, the GAO report said the program had succeeded by at least one measure — keeping bison separate from cattle to prevent the transmission of brucellosis. The disease can cause pregnant animals to abort their young.
Officials with Yellowstone and the Montana Department of Livestock said they were reviewing the GAO report and did not have an immediate comment.
