Salt killed bison at Fort Belknap, officials say

Salt poisoning is to blame for the death of 19 bison that died on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in July, Montana officials have determined.

But tribal officials say they are not certain that is the case, and the real reason for the mysterious death may never be known.

Dr. A. W. Layton of the Department of Livestock told the state's Environmental Quality Council Wednesday that the diagnosis is based on the elimination of other causes.

Anthrax, brucellosis and other diseases were ruled out soon after the bison died between July 2 and July 9.

Layton says a lack of hygienic water likely caused the bison deaths.

The bison are sacred to the Fort Belknap tribes, and last year They celebrated the arrival of bison transported from the Yellowstone National Park area. The bison were transported to the reservation after the Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The agency wanted to return the bison to Fort Belknap, but Blaine and Phillips county ranchers were concerned that they would spread disease and would escape from the reservation and destroy fields in the area.

Salt poisoning occurs in animals that consume too much salty water or are deprived of water and sweat for extended periods of time, he explained.

"Our department, I think and the tribe were very concerned about having an infectious disease,” he testified before the council according to Montana Public Radio. “Because one: the Yellowstone bison, but also about the public health issues," said Layton. "We ruled that out immediately within the first week to week and a half."

Fort Belknap Tribal Council President Mark Azure rejects the claim that the bison might not have gotten enough water, but he says the important point is that no disease was involved.

"I don't know if we'll ever really know what took the lives of these animals. Salt toxicosis, could be. I don't know but again I respect the lab and what they've done," he told the council.

FWP officials were unavailable for comment this morning.

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Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.