The Yellowstone bison herd, which is foraging widely during this harsh winter, strayed into the headlines last month. February 15, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer banned their transportation into Montana. Schweitzer's executive order is intended to halt the planned transport of hundreds of Yellowstone bison to slaughterhouses by blocking trucking routes for 90 days. Schweitzer said he worried the bison, which have the miscarriage-inducing disease brucellosis, could spread it to cattle-even though there's not been a confirmed case of such transmission. He also wants the Interior Department to overhaul an Interagency Bison Management Plan that critics say hasn't done enough to address issues.

In January, that plan saw the first sanctioned release of 25 park bison onto non-park land north of Gardiner, Montana, in hopes of one day allowing some bison to safely leave in search of food. Days later, one of the animals was shot after straying onto private property.

Superintendent Dan Wenk arrived in Yellowstone last week and announced that the bison issue is a high priority for the National Park Service. Wenk and park staff are meeting with Governor Schweitzer and Department of Livestock next week to discuss bison management.

A meeting of individuals interested in organizing a Yellowstone Bison Citizens Working Group was held in Bozeman, Montana, February 22. The 50 attendees represented the Montana Stock Growers Association, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, conservationists, hunters, and Yellowstone area property owners. The group plans to examine several subjects, including finding bison habitat outside the park and preventing brucellosis infection in cattle. Matt Skoglund of the National Resources Defense Council said he was optimistic that the group, because of its size and diversity, "will help the situation and be listened to."