**GAO-08-291**                      Published: Mar 07, 2008. Publicly Released: Apr 02, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

Federal and Montana state agencies have long been entangled in controversy over bison leaving Yellowstone National Park. Some of these bison, as well as elk and other wildlife, have a contagious disease called brucellosis, which can cause pregnant animals to abort. Montana livestock owners and government officials fear that if bison are allowed to leave the park, the disease could spread to cattle, potentially threatening the economic health of the state's livestock industry. To help manage this issue, three federal and two state agencies have been implementing a bison management plan that they agreed to in 2000. This report discusses (1) the progress made in implementing the bison management plan and (2) the plan's soundness and the effectiveness of the agencies' implementation of it for managing bison-related issues in and near Yellowstone National Park. GAO reviewed documentation and research on bison and brucellosis and interviewed federal and state officials and key stakeholders.

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## Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Animal diseasesAnimal welfareCattleDisease controlstate relationsInfectious diseasesInteragency relationsLivestockLivestock productsNational parksSchedule slippagesWildlife conservationWildlife managementZoonotic diseasesProgram goals or objectives