Bison plan allows them to roam if population drops

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A proposal requested by Gov. Steve Bullock would allow bison to roam year-round west of Yellowstone National Park if the population drops below 3,500 animals. Details of the proposal were released Wednesday. If adopted, it would break a longstanding impasse over where and when bison should be allowed to roam in areas of Montana bordering Yellowstone. Bullock intervened after state livestock and wildlife officials could not agree on a solution. Fears of bison spreading the disease brucellosis have prompted government agencies to capture and slaughter thousands of bison attempting to migrate from Yellowstone in recent years. Wednesday's proposal would let the animals stay year-round in areas near West Yellowstone. At populations exceeding 3,500 animals, they would be subject to slaughter, increased hunting and hazing back into the park. Yellowstone had about 4,900 bison at last count.