From: Questa Glenn <qglenn@aphis.usda.gov>
To: press_releases@info.aphis.usda.gov
Subject: APHIS Press Release Emergency Bison Protection Plan Proposed
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 14:45:06 -0700
John Wright (DOI) (202) 208-6416
Patrick Collins (USDA) (202) 720-2511
EMERGENCY BISON PROTECTION PLAN PROPOSED
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 1997--The heads of three federal agencies today
proposed a plan to protect bison migrating from Yellowstone National Park.
The proposal calls for significantly increased efforts to stop bison from
leaving the park and expanding their range for the first time into the
adjacent Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The proposal was made by heads
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the U.S. Department of
Interior's National Park Service (NPS), in a letter sent to the governor of
Montana today.
"The park service will deal with this emergency situation by sharply
increasing efforts along the northern and western portions of Yellowstone,
where bison have a tendency to migrate," said Roger Kennedy, NPS Director.
NPS efforts will include 24-hour patrols to keep bison migration from
Yellowstone to a minimum and contain those animals that do stray to a section
of Gallatin National Forest.
"This proposal preserves Montana's brucellosis class-free status, and
maintains the integrity of the national brucellosis eradication program, which
is near completion following 62 years of cooperative effort. Nationwide, only
32 cattle and bison herds remain under quarantine for brucellosis." said Terry
Medley, APHIS administrator.
Brucellosis causes cattle and bison to abort and lowers milk production.
Humans can contract the disease, also known as undulant fever, by handling
infected animals or drinking unpasteurized milk.
"This proposal is designed to reduce the number of animals leaving
Yellowstone," said Roger Kennedy, NPS director. "This year's increased bison
migration out of Yellowstone has been caused by extreme snow and ice levels
that have covered the animals' food source."
"We are confident that solutions can be found and are committed to
working with the National Park Service, State of Montana, and APHIS to find a
solution to this problem," said Mike Dombeck, Forest Service chief. "And
Gallatin National Forest at Horse Butte will be a part of the solution to the
problem."
All agencies will work with the Governor, local residents, and tribal
governments to find solutions to this issue and will continue to monitor the
situation and make recommended changes as needed.
"We have worked diligently to pull together all our federal agencies. We
hope the Governor will respond favorably and join us in solving this problem,"
said Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt.
#
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