Montana decides to keep Yellowstone bison in state

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana wildlife officials decided Thursday against shipping 145 bison captured from Yellowstone National Park to the Bronx zoo and other locations across the nation, choosing to send them to an American Indian reservation within the state.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to transfer the bison to Fort Peck Indian Reservation instead of following a recommendation to divide the animals among the reservation, a New York-based wildlife consortium, Oklahoma’s Cherokee Nation and the state of Utah. The bison are now being held on a ranch owned by media mogul Ted Turner under a five-year agreement that comes to an end next month, adding urgency to finding them a new home.