With talks between Montana, Wyoming and Idaho and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on how to deal with the spread of brucellosis apparently stalled and news that it almost certainly was elk, not bison or other cattle, that caused Montana's latest two outbreaks of the disease, the whole enterprise seems to be going nowhere fast.

The strongest objections to an interstate pact have come from Wyoming, which fears federal meddling with its wildlife, including its animal feeding grounds. Although Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer has signed the latest version of an agreement, none of the other parties has done so.

Meanwhile, there's something rather sad about hazing and slaughtering bison that wander from Yellowstone National Park in search of food when there's no way to haze elk, which go wherever they want. Also unlike bison, elk give birth alone, so their possibly infectious afterbirth can end up almost anywhere.

Montana State Veterinarian Marty Zaluski said some steps can be taken, such as giving hunters more access to elk herds and encouraging ranchers to fence off they hay and feed lines to make their land less attractive to elk. Sportsmen are concerned that the new emphasis on elk could lead to treating them as domestic livestock or depopulating herds as part of an attempt eliminate the disease.

Ultimately, what is needed is a dependable vaccine to protect cattle in the vicinity of the park. Meeting that goal would protect ranchers while putting an end to the black eye that killing bison gives Montana in the minds of so many other Americans.