CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Yellowstone National Park has proposed using air rifles to vaccinate bison to try to reduce the chance the animals could infect cattle with brucellosis, which causes wildlife and livestock to abort their young.
Bison and elk in the Yellowstone region carry brucellosis and about half of the bison in Yellowstone are believed to have been exposed to the bacterial disease.
Yellowstone is seeking public comments over the next two months on a plan to use air rifles to shoot bison with projectiles carrying brucellosis vaccine.
The plan has been in the works for years and would join ongoing efforts to prevent bison that leave northern Yellowstone from spreading brucellosis to cattle.
“We recognize this is a unique approach. We have a unique set of circumstances here in the park,” Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said Friday.