06/26/09

HELENA, Mont. (AP) _ Montana wildlife officials seek proposals
from Indian tribes, private groups and land-management agencies
capable of caring for 50 to 100 disease-free bison.

The bison are part of a four-year-old research projected
directed by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service. The animals have been quarantined at a facility
near Corwin Springs, north of Yellowstone National Park.

Officials are offering quarantined bison and their calves to an
agency or organization capable of caring for the animals for an
additional five years.

The aim of the project is to capture, raise and breed bison
calves from Yellowstone National Park that are free of brucellosis
exposure.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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