Bison Management Project at Stephens Creek
In 2018 the JES Avanti Foundation visited the Stephens Creek Bison Capture Facility in Yellowstone National Park, where native bison are corralled and tested for brucellosis (common among bison and elk populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.)
"Brucellosis" is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to livestock, and can induce abortions or stillbirths in infected animals. To prevent bison from transmitting to cattle [livestock], over 3,000 bison were killed between 1985-2000 as they tried to migrate out of the park by hunters and state agents. As a result, the Interagency Bison Management Plan was created. This plan guides the management of bison in and around Yellowstone, as agencies and tribal entities work to maintain a wild, free-ranging bison population and reduce the risk of the spread of brucellosis in bison, and from bison to cattle.
Due to efforts there have been no cases bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle. Also, the bison population has ranged from 2,400-5,000 in the decades following. Lack of tolerance for wild bison in most areas outside of Yellowstone's limits, and as large parts of their historic winter ranges become unavailable due to human development, there's a continued need to reduce bison numbers to prevent overgrazing in Yellowstone and avoid conflict when bison leave the park in search for food.
In effort to preserve the iconic species, the park proposed turning a part of the Stephens Creek Facility into a brucellosis quarantine so that animals that repeatedly test negative can be used to start conservation herds elsewhere. The park has prioritized the safety of humans and the animals and has been evaluated by the Humane Society. The JES Avanti Foundation was happy to support them in their efforts.
