BILLINGS — Yellowstone National Park has begun capturing bison at its Stephens Creek facility near Gardiner.
The Billings Gazette reports the park’s announcement drew immediate condemnation from bison supporters, and one group, Friends of Animals, filed a lawsuit Thursday in federal court against the Park Service and Forest Service over the plan.
About 800 to 900 bison that migrate out of the park’s northern boundary are being targeted this winter to reduce population growth and the potential for a mass migration of bison into Montana.
Federal, state and tribal leaders have agreed to use hunting as the primary method for removing bison from the population. This winter, hunting in Montana is expected to remove up to 350 bison. Another 500 to 600 animals that leave the park may be captured and transferred to tribal groups for processing.