Brucellosis In Bison Studied

Yellowstone National Park together with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host a workshop in Montana next week, to examine the science behind the disease brucellosis and help improve the management of the Yellowstone bison population. A panel of scientists with backgrounds in wildlife management and disease ecology will discuss current conservation and disease management objectives regarding bison and brucellosis, and examine public attitudes toward the disease.  The objective of the workshop is to come up with recommendations for future management of the bison population in and near the park including the feasibility of significantly suppressing the disease in bison; the potential impacts of suppression activities; the likelihood that disease suppression will result in more tolerance for bison and help advance bison conservation.  The workshop is open for public observation.  Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that can be easily spread from bison to cattle in the area and cause cattle to abort their calves.