Yellowstone bison escape again after corrals ‘sabotaged’

For the second time this year, someone has tried to set bison free from corrals at the northern edge of Yellowstone National Park. Park officials said in a news release Thursday afternoon that fences at the Stephens Creek Capture Facility were “intentionally compromised” sometime between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday, allowing 73 of 96 captured bison to escape. Park spokeswoman Morgan Warthin said 58 bison reentered the corral through the illegal opening, which has been repaired. A total of 81 bison were in captivity Thursday afternoon. The park has begun a criminal investigation into the incident. It’s the second illegal release of bison from the facility in a little more than a month, following the January release of 52 bull bison that were being held for a potential brucellosis quarantine program. A separate criminal investigation into that incident is still ongoing...more