Good question about whether they were ill. I know in Montana and Wyoming, ranchers are concerned about brucellosis being transmitted from bison to cattle herds. Maybe the guys who shot them aren't tasked with disposal and maybe another crew is coming out to dispose of the carcasses. But that doesn't excuse the Fish & Wildlife people for not informing the land owners in advance of what what going on and why.
These wildlife workers should get policing jobs in inner city Philadelphia. There's LOTS of wildlife there that needs to be managed.
I don't know, buffalo have roamed the midwest since the beginning of time, and there is a meat mixing both, called beefalo.
Brucellosis likely, yes.