10/29/09

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) _ Montana officials say they are looking
for more tribes, private groups or government agencies interested
in taking 50 to 100 bison originally from Yellowstone National
Park.

The animals, now in a government quarantine, are part of a
program aimed at curbing the number of Yellowstone bison killed
over brucellosis. That's a disease that can cause animals including
cattle to abort their young.

The quarantined bison have been held for up to four years to
make sure they are disease free. A prior attempt to relocate them
to Wyoming fell through in the spring.

Since then, three groups have shown interest _ a consortium of
zoos, the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and former media mogul
and Montana ranch owner Ted Turner. State officials say any
additional proposals for the animals must be submitted by Monday.

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