Although it's been criticized by conservationists and at least one federal official, we don't see a problem in relocating dozens of Yellowstone bison to billionaire Ted Turner's Montana ranch.

It appears to be the only viable option that's left after other proposals either fell through or didn't meet the relocation program's criteria. The animals have to go somewhere.

These 75 to 80 genetically pure bison were spared from a slaughter program intended to protect Montana's cattle industry from brucellosis. The animals are free of the disease, which causes cows to abort their calves. The goal of the relocation program is to repopulate public and tribal lands across the West with free-roaming bison.

An attempt to move the bison onto Wyoming's Wind River Indian Reservation -- which would have been our preferred option -- fell through last spring. Members of central Montana's Fort Belknap Indian Reservation also sought the animals, but state and federal officials said their bid lacked details. Fort Belknap is expected to get first preference next year, when more quarantined bison are due to be relocated.

"There's a limited pool of applicants for these animals," explained Ken McDonald, administrator of Montana's Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department. He said his agency is "getting a lot of backlash" over the claim that public wildlife is being privatized. That's the charge leveled by the Montana Wildlife Federation and a U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian.

But the transfer to Turner's property was recommended by officials from six state and federal agencies, and it was the right move to take under the circumstances.

These bison are not destined for Turner's "Ted's Montana Grill" restaurant chain, which serves buffalo burgers. He already owns about 50,000 bison, most of them domesticated, and the Yellowstone bison will be kept separately on Turner's 113,000-acre Flying D Ranch and not harvested for their meat.

Under the plan, the offspring of the Yellowstone bison could be sold as seed stock for new herds or bred with other bison Turner owns to improve their genetics.

The herd would be expected to grow to about 300 animals over the next several years. Turner Enterprises General Manager Russell Miller told The Associated Press that about 150 bison would be returned to Montana's Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department at the conclusion of a five-year study.

Turner would benefit by keeping the remaining bison and improving the genetics of his animals. However, Miller estimated it will cost Turner about $480,000 for veterinary care, disease testing, fencing and lost grazing opportunities.

Turner's ranch would serve as a home for bison no one else is either interested in or qualified to care for. After the five-year study is completed, Montana would get back twice the number of bison it originally sent to Turner.

We're not surprised that some would object to any arrangement that would aid the former cable TV mogul, who has been a lightning rod for controversy. And it may well be that Montana's wildlife agency, which still has to approve the plan, will ultimately bow to public pressure.

But we hope not. It sounds like a fair deal, and one that in the long run benefits public wildlife and the original goal of the bison relocation program, which began in 2005.