Yellowstone National Park captures 75 bison for slaughter

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park has captured 75 wild bison that are likely to be slaughtered after they attempted to migrate into Montana.

Park spokeswoman Amy Bartlett said most of the bison were captured Sunday and Monday as they attempted to cross the park's northern border near Gardiner. She says they will be held in corrals until arrangements are made to ship them to slaughter.

Federal and state officials plan to kill 600 to 900 Yellowstone bison this year through hunting and slaughter. The goal is to reduce the park's bison population to prevent the spread of the disease brucellosis to Montana livestock.

Bartlett says hunters have killed almost 400 Yellowstone bison this winter.

The animals can roam freely in some areas of Montana but still face potential capture for population control.