8-8 FB Bison Shot

 Idaho officials have killed two bull bison that roamed out of Yellowstone National Park, citing concerns over the spread of brucellosis to cattle.

A spokesman for the Fremont County Sheriff's Office said the bison were killed 6 days apart in Island Park in southeastern Idaho. The area is about 15 to 20 miles west of the park. Authorities said the bison killed Thursday was along the shoulder of U.S. Highway 20 near The Nature Conservancy's Flat Ranch. The bison killed Saturday was north of Mack's Inn. Here is Idaho chief veterinarian, Dr. Bill Barton: “Idaho statute title 25 chapters 6, outlines how the department should respond in the case of wild bison migrating out of Yellowstone Park into the state of Idaho. Our options are rather limited. We are required to either move those animals back into the park or euthanize them. And quote

Darrell Geist with the Buffalo Field Campaign, an advocacy group based in West Yellowstone, Mont. said bison could be entering Idaho a number of ways from Yellowstone National Park, including along Targhee Pass. He noted the region used to be a major bison migration corridor, and some bison are still drawn to it.

"It's their instinct to migrate, and there are some bison that still retain these ancient migratory routes, almost like a map," he said. "They know where to go and they find it again."