Groups Fight 'Slaughter' of Yellowstone Bison

The federal culling of Yellowstone bison herds threatens genetic diversity and long-term survival prospects, a federal complaint calling for emergency measures alleges. Friends of Animals and Buffalo Field Campaign sued Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Jan. 15 in Washington, D.C. Under the Interagency Bison Management Plan to control disease, the U.S. government has authorized the killing of at least 900 bison. The plaintiffs claim that the measure is unnecessary since there has never been a documented case of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle. "This is a profoundly tragic event," BFC spokeswoman Stephany Seay said in a statement. "These buffalo are a national treasure, a native keystone species beloved the world over, and are the most important bison population in the world. Yellowstone should be preventing harm to the buffalo, not bending over backwards for cattle interests by participating in their destruction." Meanwhile the government has allegedly delayed acting on an emergency petition that the groups submitted last year to protect the genetic diversity of the bison herds of Yellowstone National Park and Gallatin National Forest. "The current management of bison in Yellowstone National Park is inconsistent with the National Park Service's Organic Act (and relevant agency policies and guidance), which contains wildlife conservation requirements," their complaint states. "Specifically, the IBMP [Interagency Bison Management Plan] allows for the disruption of the bison's natural movements, has unacceptable impacts on bison."...more