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Yellowstone has 3,000 bison, maybe more

By The Associated Press

Story Created: Mar 18, 2010 at 5:58 AM MST

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2010 at 5:58 AM MST

BILLINGS - Yellowstone National Park officials report that the park's two bison herds now number an estimated 3,000 animals.

That figure is up only slightly from last year, although park officials caution that they may have undercounted the population by up to 300 animals.

Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash says spotty snow cover made it difficult to see bison from the airplane used in the population count.

Yellowstone's herds numbered 4,700 bison just three years ago. That was before 1,600 of the animals were killed, primarily by government agencies, under a program meant to prevent the spread of animal disease to cattle.

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