As a result, major sponsors have dropped out of underwriting the race, but many continue to sponsor individual mushers. Today's Iditarod is highly regulated. It includes mandatory layovers, vet checks at every checkpoint, and provisions for dogs that are dropped from teams. Yellowstone buffalo killed leaving the park Severe winter in Yellowstone National Park is driving buffalo to leave the protected area and face death from bullets instead of starvation. At issue is the fear that the animals carry and will spread brucellosis to cattle, a possibility that could result in revocation of Montana's brucellosis-free status.
Brucellosis causes abortions in cattle and is contagious to humans.
Yellowstone can support an estimated 2000 buffalo, but the herd had grown to about 3500 last fall. As the snow deepened this winter, animals began leaving the park, and Montana began a culling program. About 1000 animals have been killed. The threat of brucellosis can harm Montana's cattle industry, forcing annual testing of cattle herds. According to Governor Marc Racicot, Oregon has prohibited cattle from his state unless they are tested.