Those against the latest plan are especially concerned about its impact on Montana livestock. Bison in Yellowstone are currently confined to the park boundaries due to concerns that they may spread brucellosis, a bacterial infection that can cause cattle to abort unborn calves.<\/p>\n
Alongside greater freedom to roam, the new plan would drop a bison vaccination program, established 25 years ago to protect against brucellosis. Critics fear that these moves would put Montana domestic livestock at an increased risk.<\/p>\n
Testing reveals that roughly 60% of female Yellowstone bison have been exposed to brucella bacteria. However, experts estimate that only 10% to 15% are capable of transmitting it to other animals.<\/p>\n
Recent research also suggests that Yellowstone bison are extremely unlikely to transmit the infection to cattle. As noted in the latest plan, there\u2019s not been a single recorded case of bison-to-cattle brucellosis transmission since the year 2000, while elk have been responsible for at least 25 transmissions in that time.<\/p>\n
Alongside livestock concerns, Montana\u2019s 51-page lawsuit takes aim at Yellowstone\u2019s plans to increase the number of bison transferred to tribal governments and accuses officials of rushing through the planning process.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernor Gianforte is aiming to significantly reduce the bison population so very few, if any, remain to migrate onto millions of acres of national forest habitat,\u201d Buffalo Field Campaign habitat coordinator Darrel Geist told the Montana Free Press.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about the state exerting control over Yellowstone National Park and diminishing the most significant population of wild bison population remaining in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle Uberuaga of the National Parks Conservation Association was equally unimpressed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe park\u2019s plan balanced many competing interests and the state of Montana had ample opportunity to provide input,\u201d she told the Montana Free Press.<\/p>\n Yellowstone\u2019s disputed plan was developed over a year and a half and included a public consultation phase in which 27,000 people commented on it.<\/p>\n Just 3% of Yellowstone National Park is located in Montana. 96% of the ancient park is in Wyoming and a further 1% in Idaho.<\/p>\n