Yellowstone Park bison herd a highly contagious zoonosis caused by ingestion of unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat from infected animals, or close contact with their secretions. Brucellosis occurs naturally in the Yellowstone Bison Herd and the normal winter migrations of bison outside the park have raised concerns that Brucellosis infected Bison may infect cattle. The United States government has programs to eradicate brucellosis in domestic livestock. Since 1934, an estimated $3.5 billion in federal, state, and private funds has been spent on brucellosis eradication in domestic livestock. Over the years, the National Park Service and states bordering the park have implemented various plans to
Brucellosis a "calfhood" vaccination. Most cattle receive a tattoo in one of their ears, serving as proof of their vaccination status. This tattoo also includes the last digit of the year they were born. The first state–federal cooperative efforts towards eradication of brucellosis caused by "Brucella abortus" in the U.S. began in 1934. Brucellosis was originally imported to North America with non-native domestic cattle ("Bos taurus"), which transmitted the disease to wild bison ("Bison bison") and elk ("Cervus canadensis"). No records exist of brucellosis in ungulates native to America until the early 19th century. Antibiotics such as tetracyclines, rifampin, and the