Yellowstone bison slaughter alternatives offered

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - State and federal officials on Friday offered an array of options to overhaul a 15-year-old agreement that has led to the slaughter of thousands of bison at Yellowstone National Park, with possibilities ranging from letting the population spill freely into Montana to even more aggressive culling efforts.

The release of the six draft bison management alternatives comes almost a year after the U.S. Department of Interior and the state of Montana announced they would reconsider the 2000 agreement.

It also coincides with the end of yet another slaughter season, in which at least 507 migrating bison were killed to guard against transmissions of disease to livestock. The animals were transferred to American Indian tribes that use the carcasses for food and cultural purposes.

Park spokesman Al Nash said with the onset of spring conditions, there are few bison remaining north of the park where this winter's capture operations and much of the hunting occurred.

There were about 4,900 bison counted in the park last summer, the most recent tally available.

One proposal under consideration would minimize human intervention and let the herds grow to an estimated 7,500 animals, the maximum number the park could sustain. Another would step up population control efforts and drive their numbers below 3,000.

Bison were driven to near-extinction in the late 1800s. Yellowstone's animals are prized for their genetic purity.