A record-breaking number of bison removed from Yellowstone’s herd has climbed to more than 1,530. Hundreds were sent out of the park, while roughly 800 have been held to protect them from the hunt. Climbing kill count worries Yellowstone's bison lovers:
Anna Harris, left, and Katie Harris Murphy, members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, at Beattie Gulch, Mont., on February 13, 2021.
But in the past several weeks, the scope of the hunt, conducted mainly by eight Indigenous tribes, along with other park control measures, has generated more criticism than previous hunts. As the culling winds down, the record-breaking number of bison removed from Yellowstone’s herd has climbed to more than 1,530 — including hundreds of pregnant females.
Recent studies indicate that the population should not be reduced to fewer than 3,500, Sholly said, to ensure genetic diversity. With a new calf crop this spring, the population should be about 5,000, he estimated. Still, some critics of the hunt note that there has never been an outbreak of brucellosis infection among Montana’s roughly 2 million cattle that could be traced to Yellowstone bison. Bradley De Groot, brucellosis program veterinarian for the state’s livestock department, credited constant monitoring and interventions.
U.S. officials have rejected inoculations against brucellosis for park bison because they say existing vaccines lack efficacy and are hard to distribute. Elk in the region also are infected and could reinfect any immunized bison. Cattle are immunized against brucellosis. Beginning late last year, hundreds of Indigenous hunters from the northwest United States have flocked to the boundaries of Yellowstone, especially to a small area called Beattie Gulch, adjacent to the park’s northern border.
But although these past few months have allowed hunters to connect to their heritage, the large scale of the culling is creating more controversy than in previous years. Critics, including some Native Americans, denounced the park bison’s limited area of migration, saying they became trapped in a very small area, had little fear of people and were not given a fair chase afforded other hunted animals.
Billboards sponsored by two environmental groups, Roam Free Nation and Alliance for the Wild Rockies, showcase concerns, with one featuring a photo of a herd of bison and a hunter, and the headline: “There Is No Hunt. It’s a Slaughter.” To Jeremy Red Star Wolf, the hunt is not only culturally meaningful but a reliable food source. His family killed five bison, providing meat for other families.
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