Associated Press - November 10, 2009 2:24 PM ET
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - State and federal officials are recommending that dozens of wild bison from Yellowstone National Park be moved to a Montana ranch owned by billionaire Ted Turner, who plans to keep 75 percent of their offspring for commercial purposes.
The animals include adult bison and their descendants spared from a slaughter program meant to protect Montana's cattle industry from a disease carried by many bison.
The plan was to use the spared animals - considered disease free - to repopulate public and tribal lands across the West with free-roaming bison.
But after other offers to take the animals fell through or were judged insufficient, state and federal officials said Tuesday that Turner's private ranch was the best remaining option.
The move is opposed by conservationists and at least one federal agency. It still needs approval from the director of Montana's wildlife agency.
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