Holding that Yellowstone National Park bison should not be allowed to "reproduce prolifically beyond the capacity of its range," a federal judge ruled Monday that he would not stop park bison that roamed into Montana from being slaughtered.

Yellowstone National Park's northern range at times has been labeled "America's Serengeti" for the rich and diverse wildlife that inhabits it. But today, with native trout imperiled by non-native predators, whitebark pine trees at risk of climate change, and bison being cut off from valuable winter habitat and at times slaughtered, is the ecosystem unraveling?

Hopes for tolerance of migratory Yellowstone National Park bison by Montana officials seemed to unravel this week, as the park's tortuous winter drove hundreds of bison out of the park. While they were quickly rounded up, some appear headed to slaughter.