slaughter

Hundreds of the animals have moved in recent days into the Gardiner basin along the park’s northern border.

A three-judge appellate panel said Monday that by allowing hunting and hazing of bison, the federal government had taken actions that were a valid target of the lawsuit.

The bison were tested repeatedly during a Yellowstone-area quarantine run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make sure they were disease-free.

Officials say the exact number of bison expected to be culled out of the estimated 4,900 depends on the winter migration.