"In the 1960s, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) threw active herd management to the wind," the lawsuit reads further. “The bison population boomed, spilling brucellosis-infected bison into Montana and forcing the State to pick up YNP's slack in order to protect its livestock industry from the disease."

State officials say they're worried about bison passing on disease to cattle outside the park—but wildlife managers say it's never happened before.

Montana Gov. Gov. Greg Gianforte wants to throw out Yellowstone National Park’s new bison management plan and reduce the

The lawsuit is the latest escalation in a decades-long fight between state and federal officials over how to manage the park's growing bison population.

Gov. Greg Gianforte and two state agencies are suing the federal government. They argue Yellowstone National Park’s new bison management plan violates federal law.

A long-simmering battle between Yellowstone National Park officials and the Gianforte administration in Montana came to a head on Tuesday with state officials suing the park in federal court for its bison management plan.

The bison plan was finalized in 2024 amid protests from the Gianforte administration, first outlined in a 17-page letter in 2023.

Department of Livestock and FWP join Gov. Gianforte in suing the park over its plan to increase the park’s bison population and increase tolerance for bison presence outside of park boundaries.

Montana officials filed a lawsuit on Dec. 31 in U.S. District court alleging that the DOI and NPS have failed to keep bison populations in check at Yellowstone National Park. NPS officials say the park can support a larger herd,

Bison in Yellowstone National Park may seem calm, but approaching them is extremely dangerous. Learn why these massive animals should always be admired from a safe distance and the steps to ensure your safety while visiting the park.