BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Bison could roam year-round in large areas adjacent to Yellowstone National Park under a proposal released Monday by Montana officials who want to further ease restrictions on the iconic, burly animals.

For decades migrating bison have been slaughtered or hazed back into the park to prevent them from passing the disease brucellosis to cattle.

Recommended Stories

Dairy cows infected with bird flu have died or been slaughtered in five states

Cows, and farmers, are part of the solution to climate change

Montana prairie reserve tops 300,000 acres