Ranchers oppose relocating bison

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Some southeast Wyoming ranchers are opposed to a proposal to move 14 bison from federal quarantine at Yellowstone National Park to Guernsey State Park.

The Wyoming State Parks department has suggested the park in Platte County as a possible home for the animals as Montana seeks to move them out of a Gardiner, Mont., quarantine facility and avoid their slaughter.

Wyoming officials say the plan would help preserve the pure genetics of Yellowstone's wild bison herd. They also say the animals have been thoroughly tested and pose no risk of transmitting the livestock disease brucellosis to cattle.

But some ranchers still say they're wary of brucellosis risks and see no point in putting bison at Guernsey.

Montana and Wyoming are both conducting environmental assessments of the Guernsey proposal.