| Buffalo Field Campaign- Science
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Yellowstone
Bison Vaccination Program
12/05/04-
Livestock department proposes vaccinating bison that leave
Yellowstone
See News Article 12/10/03-
U.S. proposes plan to vaccinate bison
See Update from the Field 12/12/03-
Agencies Plan Intrusive Vaccination Program
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The
Yellowstone bison herd is the only continuously wild herd in
the United States. It is descended from just 23 wild bison
that survived the mass eradication of the 19th century and is
the largest remaining single population of genetically pure
bison. Yellowstone bison are a unique cultural and biological
treasure because they are the last wild bison in America.
Vaccinating them would degrade that wild character.
Vaccines, like RB51, are designed for livestock, not wildlife.
Rather than focus on Yellowstone's wild bison, management efforts
should be directed at cattle herds. The Park's plan fails
to consider the impacts of capturing and handling America's
only continuously wild herd of bison. Such handling will
negatively impact the health of bison yearlings and calves.
Tests used to determine which bison go to slaughter and which
get the vaccine detect only brucellosis antibodies, not actual
infection. This means that bison sent to slaughter could
actually be the members of the herd most resistant to brucellosis.
Nature is already doing what this program will fail to do.
Holding orphaned yearlings and calves in captivity, cut off
from the rest of their herd and denied sufficient range to roam,
further compromises their wild character. When they are
released in spring with an ear tag, the domestication of the
last wild bison in America will be complete. Maybe we
should change the Park's name to Yellowstone National Ranch,
since wildlife there will no longer be treated as wild.
The vaccine that the Park Service plans to use, RB51, is unproven.
The vaccine has never been used on wild bison. The Park
Service should not proceed until long-term studies on wild bison
are conducted and the results are determined. Figures
cited in the story were from experiments conducted on domestic
bison. Yellowstone bison have carried brucellosis for
nearly a century, and, as the recent herd size demonstrates,
have shown no noticeable effect in terms of viable birth rates.
On the other hand, cattle that recently contracted brucellosis
from elk in Wyoming had been vaccinated with RB51. If
the vaccine doesn't work on the cattle for which it was developed,
why would it work on wild bison?
RB51 is not effective in bison. According to a recent
peer-reviewed study (Davis, D.S. and Elzer, P.H., 2002, Brucella
Vaccines in Wildlife, Veterinary Microbiology (90): 533-544.),
"It was determined that RB51 did not confer significant
protection in the vaccinated animals. In terms of abortions
and infections, the RB51 bison vaccinated with three injections
did not differ significantly from the non-vaccinated bison..."
A month hasn't even passed since APHIS (US Department of Agriculture's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) concluded its comment
period for an Environmental Assessment (EA) on its plans to
vaccinate Yellowstone bison with RB51. The proposed plan
calls for vaccination of yearlings and calves who leave the
Park. The authors of the EA admit that the "efficacy
[of RB51] in bison has not been definitively determined."
The public comments haven't even received an official response,
yet the Park Service is moving ahead on a pilot program that
calls for the exact same vaccination inside the Park.
What does this say about public process? Is the Park Service,
in its rush to vaccinate, seeking any public input? Have
they even considered the range of public comment recently collected
on the same issue? If an EA is required for bison outside
the Park, a similar process should be undertaken for bison inside
the Park.
Vaccinating Yellowstone bison with an ineffective vaccine will
not eliminate brucellosis from the herd. Because the disease
has little effect on bison and because wild bison have never
transmitted brucellosis to livestock, management efforts should
focus on cattle. There are very few head of cattle ranging
in areas where Yellowstone bison migrate in winter and spring.
The cattle are routinely rounded up and vaccinated for a number
of diseases. A far more effective, economically viable
alternative would manage cattle for disease while treating the
last wild herd of bison in America as wildlife in Yellowstone. |
Possible
points to make to the NPS:
… Vaccinating Yellowstone bison degrades
their wild character.
… The test used to determine which bison
to ship to slaughter tests for exposure, not infection.
This means that bison carrying brucellosis antibodies will be
shipped to slaughter even though the disease does not affect
them, and in the case of bull bison is not even likely to be
transmitted.
… RB51 is unproven and ineffective in
bison.
… Keeping yearlings and calves in captivity
until spring is cruel and further erodes their wild character.
… The NPS should seek formal public comment
before taking an action that threatens the wild character of
the last wild bison in America.
… The mission of the NPS is to protect
wildlife, not to protect the livestock industry from a perceived
threat. Eradicating brucellosis from the Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem is unrealistic and will disrupt all wildlife.
Ask the NPS to do its job and protect the wildlife!
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