By James Rush Genetically pure wild bison could be reintroduced to vast swathes of the American West and allowed to roam in parts of their native habitat once again for the first time in more than 100 years. While once millions of the powerful animals roamed the plains to the west of the Mississippi, their numbers were driven down by hunting to fewer than 50, who discovered refuge in Yellowstone National Park in the early 20th century. Officials at the park have now begun seeking public comment on plans which could see the animal reintroduced to states including Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska and South Dakota.
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Yellowstone National Park officials begin consultation on reintroduction
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Would be first time bison roamed in American West for more than 100 years
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Recent U.S. Interior Department report concluded the animal could potentially be moved back on to land without posing risk to livestock
Concerns have been raised however that bison could bring disease - namely, brucellosis, an infection that causes stillbirths in cows and may have been transmitted to about half the bison in @placeholder from exposure to cattle.