Alternative 6: Aggressive Brucellosis Control within YellowstoneNational Park
through Vaccination
This alternative, like alternative 5, would pursue the aggressive reduction
of brucellosis from the Yellowstone
bison herd. However, the entire bison herd would first be vaccinated (when a
safe and effective vaccine was available), primarily through remote means, and
tested as they attempted to exit at park boundary locations. When tests showed
the incidence of exposure to B. abortus had stabilized as a result of
vaccination, (estimated to occur in 10 years) the herd-wide capture, test, and
slaughter of seropositive bison outlined in alternative 5 would begin.
Unlike alternative 5, bison would be allowed in the Eagle Creek/Bear Creek
and western SMAs, although the majority of bison in the western SMA would be
tested and released seronegatives. The National Park Service would construct
and operate a capture facility at Seven-Mile
Bridge
inside the park on the west side. Nearly all bison migrating toward the West
Yellowstone area cross through this narrow area. These
facilities (at Duck Creek and the Madison River)
would be dismantled, although a small, backup capture facility near Horse
Butte, might be maintained.
