By MATTHEW BROWN

Associated Press

PRAY, Mont. (AP) -- Ranchers and wildlife advocates are urging changes in the management of Yellowstone National Park bison to give the animals more room to roam while decreasing the chances of disease transmission.

Those recommendations came Wednesday from a diverse citizens group set up to advise state and federal officials struggling to deal with thousands of bison that regularly migrate outside the park in search of food.

Many bison carry brucellosis, a disease that can cause pregnant animals to miscarry. In the last decade, more than 3,000 Yellowstone bison have been slaughtered to guard against transmissions to cattle.

The advisory group wants more hunting to keep bison populations in check while still allowing them more room in Montana. The group also says vaccinating bison against brucellosis should have lower priority than vaccinating cattle.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.