11/10/09

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) _ State and federal officials are
recommending that dozens of wild bison from Yellowstone National
Park be moved to a Montana ranch owned by billionaire Ted Turner,
who plans to keep 75 percent of their offspring for commercial
purposes.

The animals include adult bison and their descendants spared
from a slaughter program meant to protect Montana's cattle industry
from a disease carried by many bison.

The plan was to use the spared animals _ considered disease free
_ to repopulate public and tribal lands across the West with
free-roaming bison.

But after other offers to take the animals fell through or were
judged insufficient, state and federal officials said Tuesday that
Turner's private ranch was the best remaining option.

The move is opposed by conservationists and at least one federal
agency. It still needs approval from the director of Montana's
wildlife agency.


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