| "The
so-called random shooting at the Montana borders is actually
eliminating or depleting entire maternal lineages, therefore
this action will cause an irreversible crippling of the gene
pool. Continued removal of genetic lineages will change the
genetic makeup of the herd, thus it will not represent the
animal of 1910 or earlier. It would be a travesty to have
people look back and say we were 'idiots' for not understanding
the gene pool."
"Bison have developed a natural resistance genetically
as long as they have enough to eat, limited stress and are
not consumed by other disease. There is no magic bullet in
wildlife disease, therefore management is important. Vaccines
are one management tool and one component, but genetic structure
is necessary for future management. Every animal which is
removed from the breeding population can no longer contribute
to the genetic variability of the herd."
Dr. Joe Templeton, Texas A& M University, Dept.
of Veterinary Pathobiology, Remarks made to the GYIBC May
21, 1998.
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