Yellowstone bison pushed back into park for summer

In This Feb.14, 2011 file photo a group of bison graze, just inside Yellowstone National Park near Gardiner.

BILLINGS — Several hundred Yellowstone bison have been hazed back into the national park after spending the winter grazing in southwest Montana.

Steve Merritt with the Montana Department of Livestock said Monday the animals are expected to stay inside the park as livestock return to the area. The bison were hazed from the West Yellowstone area by a state-contracted helicopter and government workers on horseback.

Bison are prohibited from roaming freely across most of Montana because of social opposition and concerns they could transmit the disease brucellosis to livestock.

An environmental group that wanted to block this year's bison hazing sought to withdraw its request for a court restraining order on Monday.

U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell denied the request, saying hazing would likely recur and the issue should be heard.