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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park administrators say shipments of wild bison to slaughter are done for the winter season after the removal of almost 600 animals under a population reduction program.
Federal and state officials said Friday that 258 migrating bison were captured and transferred for slaughter. At least 264 have been killed by hunters and 60 placed in an animal contraception experiment.
The removals were part of an ongoing effort to reduce Yellowstone's bison herds to about 3,000 animals under an agreement with Montana.
Wildlife advocates contend the capture and slaughter program is unnecessary, citing research that says Yellowstone could support far more bison than the 4,600 counted last summer.
Ranchers outside the park have a low tolerance for the animals because of concerns about bison spreading disease and edging out cattle for grass.
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