Brucellosis Dynamics of Yellowstone Bison

Understanding the disease prevalence in the population assists managers in determining what actions best meet the risk management goals for managing bison as they approach the park boundary. Montoring brucellosis prevalence is done through sampling blood collected from individual bison. Large samples are collected when many bison are captured at the boundary capture facilities. Remote sampling is conducted by following a randomly selected group of adult female bison and following them on an annual basis. Yellowstone staff collaborates with many scientists to better understand immune system response to brucellosis infection by Yellowstone bison. Inquiries are being made to monitor and study how to detect infected animals, how winter weather conditions affect body condition and energy reserves relative to disease prevalence, and to learn more about how diagnostic results vary in bison that are pregnant or tending calves.