Bison-capture facility near Y'Stone reauthorized

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A facility meant to capture bison that migrate out of Yellowstone National Park has been reauthorized.

Gallatin National Forest supervisor Mary Erickson reauthorized the state Department of Livestock's 10-year special-use permit for the facility on Horse Butte Peninsula west of the park. The original 10-year permit expired at the end of last year.

The area has been at the center of a controversy over the possibility that the bison may spread brucellosis to cattle. The disease can cause pregnant animals to prematurely abort their young, although no transmissions of brucellosis from wild bison to cattle have been recorded.

Erickson says capturing the bison was a better option than killing them.

The permit applies to about two acres of national forest land.

It includes the use of Forest Service roads 610 and 2530D to access the facility.

On the Web: Gallatin National Forest, http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 01-14-09 0412CST | save this article / add to your favorites list