BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A high-profile initiative to spare a
small number of Yellowstone bison from slaughter has been
delayed until at least this fall, after a Wyoming Indian
reservation reversed its plan to take the animals. Because about
half of Yellowstone National Park's bison test positive for the
livestock disease brucellosis, most of those that roam outside
the park are captured and slaughtered. In recent years the
government started sparing a small number of animals without the
disease. The plan is to use the bison to re-establish herds
beyond Yellowstone. The first 48 bison were supposed to move to
the Wind River Indian Reservation in May. However, members of
the Northern Arapaho recently told officials they don't want the
animals on 30,000 acres of tribe-owned ranchland that had been
slated to receive the bison. They reportedly said it would put
the animals too close to cattle. Federal officials hope to be
able to find public or tribal land for the bison this fall.
Veterinarian Jack Rhyan says in th