Tuesday January 6, 2009, 1:09 pm
HERE IS THE STORY:

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Ranchers are voicing concern about plans to relocate some Yellowstone Park bison to Indian reservations in Montana and Wyoming.

The ranchers are worried about the animals' history of carrying brucellosis, a disease that causes domestic cows to miscarry.

"There isn't anyone up here who wants it. It's a cockamamie idea, and it's an experimental deal," said John Brenden, a Scobey rancher and legislator. "I don't like anybody experimenting on us."

At issue is the relocation of more than 40 bison, kept under quarantine for three years as part of an experiment to keep alive at least some of the bison migrating from Yellowstone National Park.

3 reservations want the animals for their bloodline purity

Bison that have left the park and tested positive for brucellosis have been slaughtered in Montana to prevent the animals from coming in contact with livestock.

However, the quarantined bison have tested negative for brucellosis for three years, been allowed to reproduce in captivity and are now ready for relocation. Three Indian reservations, the Fort Belknap and Fort Peck reservations in Montana and Wind River in Wyoming, have submitted proposals for acquiring the bison.

The animals are sought after because of bloodline purity, said Robbie Magnum, who manages an existing herd of 117 bison on the Fort Peck Reservation. Park bison breed within their species, unlike their nonpark cousins that over the years have been crossbred with cattle.

Magnum said the park bison would not only improve the quality of the Fort Peck herd but also help tribal members return to a traditional diet low in carbohydrates and rich in bison meat. Diabetes is a serious problem on the reservation. Lowering carbohydrate consumption is considered key to managing blood sugar levels.

No bison will be moved for months

Representatives from state and federal government agencies will meet this month to review bison management proposals submitted by the reservations.

Ron Aasheim, spokesman for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department, said it will be months before any bison are relocated.

The Fort Peck reservation's borders stretch within a few miles of Brenden's home.

Ranchers are concerned about stigma from disease, now gone

Brenden and other ranchers worry about the bison straying off the reservation. Even if the animals tested negative for brucellosis, they carry the stigma of originating from a diseased population in Yellowstone National Park.

Ranchers say just having the bison near their operations could make it hard to market beef from the area.

But the Montana Department of Livestock isn't opposed to the plan since the bison have tested negative for brucellosis for three years.

"As far as the Department of Livestock is concerned, we're not going to let untested bison go anywhere," said Steve Merritt, the department's spokesman. "This has been part of the plan for quite some time. It's part of the interagency bison management plan. It's part of the plan of the quarantine facility. We have a high degree of confidence in the testing regime."

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 1:34 pm
If they have no disease then what are they so worked up about. Leave the Bufflow alone so they can have more calfs. There not that many left thanks to good old bush for taking them off the endangered species list. Thanks Kat

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 1:50 pm
The damned ranchers are always singing this same tired tune. People who don't know the facts (or, are buddies with the ranchers) buy their lies. Politicians find it in their best interest to also side with the ranchers. The buffalo were here, first. THEY deserve to be protected and helped in every way possible.

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 1:54 pm
Ditto, Warren - let's stop all the dishonesty and proceed with what is fair.

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 2:08 pm
Let the buffalo roam! Man and his infernal interference........makes me SICK!

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 2:24 pm
Thats the most insane thing I've ever heard. Theres buffalo in Maine, Indiana. Its just the ranchers who want to run everything. They kill the wolves and now want to stop buffalo. If they don't like it they can always move to Europe; But some countries have sheep and goats. I suppose that would be a problem too.

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 4:10 pm
noted thank you go bison

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 5:11 pm
The ranchers don't want the Indians eating the buffalo, they want them to buy the cattle...greed. If they have been tested and are not diseased then they should be able to go to the reservations. At one time before the Cattlemen were out there the buffalo roamed freely, maybe we should talk about relocating the cattle....hmmmm....now that is a novel idea.

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 6:14 pm
It was and is the Bison's land not the ranchers- bisons have been roaming long before greedy ranchers. Thank you Kat.

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 9:06 pm
I vote for the bison!

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 9:13 pm
Let the bison roam.noted Thanks Kat

Tuesday January 6, 2009, 11:48 pm
before xmas I went to a meeting were a Native spokeman was who lived closed by.It was very interesting what he had to say about this.
Cows are weak and have to get help to survive.Here in europe too,you don't want to know how much anti biotics we are giving them to kill diseases (prevention)

Wednesday January 7, 2009, 2:39 am
Noted. Thanks Kat.

Wednesday January 7, 2009, 5:54 am
I am sick to death of the damn ranchers always getting their way for their cattle. First the wolves, now the Buffalo. ENOUGH! The Buffalo tested negative for the disease, they should be allowed to relocate them to the reservations. DO IT ALREADY!!!

It is nothing but the ranchers GREED that is holding this up not disease. Their cattle are subsecptable to disease because they are week and mostly inbred. Cattle were once wild also, it was Man that domesticated, and subsequently bred the different breeds down, to where they have little immunity to diseases their free-ranging ancestors could tolerate. Man screws up everything, and every species, they touch!

They (the ranchers) don't want the tribes to have anything that may ween them off of the White Man's Control. I say it's long overdue!

Wednesday January 7, 2009, 6:37 am
The cattlemen--one heck of a strong lobby with Washington wrapped around their little finger. At the heart of many of the mismanagement of the public land and wild life is the cattlemen who have managed to get some VERY sweet deals from OUR representatives. I do not elect the leaders of the Cattlemen's Association, I elect public officials who I believe ought to start listening to you and me and not corporate interests of America. Bison being an integral part of the Native American life?? What a concept--this is just bringing back a balance which hopefully will help our Native American population return to a state of health.

Wednesday January 7, 2009, 9:36 am
i say let them roam.leave them alone they were here long befor and deserve toroam whereever they can

Wednesday January 7, 2009, 9:54 am
I wish that the public would challenge this tired tune these manipulative b@stards keep using to get their way. They already get FREE grazing rights on PUBLIC lands (I don't remember being asked to give my permission for this, d0 you?). Now they lie and claim that the bison "gave" their livestock the disease. It's actually the other way around, but most people don't know this, and everyone in the US is always far too deferential to "business" and "profit" and nothing ever changes.

When the bison are all gone and are just a memory in the old Native American folklore, maybe THEN the US public will kick itself in the backside for not demanding better treatment and protections for this magnificent, native neighbor.

Thursday January 8, 2009, 10:27 pm
Is there anyone who would like to draft a petition to protect the Buffalo once and for all ?