Table 2. 



Percentage of bifon harvested by month in the 1988-69 removal, 



Initially, hunters selected for adult males when 

 available, then adult females. All calves of the year 

 (animals <1 year old) were taken by MDFWP personnel. By late 

 April 1989, bison which remained in Montana were successfully 

 hazed back into YNP as new forage sources became available. 



A total of 2,557 hunter applications was processed for 

 the 1988-89 bison reduction. Of 547 hunters called, 494 were 

 able to be at the hunt site at the appointed time. All 494 

 hunters were successful in harvesting an animal, and all but 

 two hunters were Montana residents. 



BRUCELLOSIS 



Eighty-five percent (484) of the harvested sample was 

 tested for brucellosis. Overall, 54% tested reactive (R) or 

 suspicious (S) to the presence of the Brucella antibody (Table 

 3) . The incidence of brucellosis has been documented 

 previously in Yellowstone National Park bison by Rush '(1932), 

 Tunnicliff and Marsh (1935) and by Meagher (1973). Those 

 studies showed 53%, 54-74%, and 28-59% seropositive, 

 respectively. 



Table 3. 



Brucellosis test results by sex for bison harvested in 1988-89 



Male 



Female 



Brucellosis test results 



Total Positive 



169 



89 



61 



44 



Total Negative 



110 



113 



3<? 



56 



Total Tested 



279 



202 



Unknown 



Total 



259 



225 



Includes 27 males and 16 females that tested suspicious 



484 



