Bringing bison back to
Banff 'not easy'
BY COLETTE DERWORIZ, CALGARY HERALD
Bison bull in Yellowstone National Park.
Photograph by: Photo courtesy Harvey Locke , Handout
Plains bison roamed freely in the area along the
Eastern Slopes of the Rockies for thousands of
years, until they were nearly wiped out by hunting
in the mid-1800s. Now, there's only a few small
herds across the country.
Eastern Slopes of the Rockies for thousands of
years, until they were nearly wiped out by hunting
in the mid-1800s. Now, there's only a few small
herds across the country.
But wild, free-roaming bison could soon return to
the backcountry in Banff National Park.
the backcountry in Banff National Park.
The reintroduction — which draws on Parks
Canada's long record of managing bison in national
parks such as Elk Island, Wood Buffalo and
Grasslands — won't be easy. "It's an ambitious
and a really exciting project, but it's complicated,"
says superintendent Dave McDonough. "We're
adding a species that hadn't been here for 126
years and we want to ensure what we do is
done properly."
Canada's long record of managing bison in national
parks such as Elk Island, Wood Buffalo and
Grasslands — won't be easy. "It's an ambitious
and a really exciting project, but it's complicated,"
says superintendent Dave McDonough. "We're
adding a species that hadn't been here for 126
years and we want to ensure what we do is
done properly."
Banff National Park has been working on the
proposal since 2010, when the park's
management plan called for the reintroduction
of a breeding herd of plains bison into the front
ranges. Since then, they've been meeting with
advocacy, tourism, recreational and environment
groups, businesses, provincial and municipal
governments, First Nations, bison and cattle
producers, and outfitters.
proposal since 2010, when the park's
management plan called for the reintroduction
of a breeding herd of plains bison into the front
ranges. Since then, they've been meeting with
advocacy, tourism, recreational and environment
groups, businesses, provincial and municipal
governments, First Nations, bison and cattle
producers, and outfitters.
The proposal has received praise from Bison
Belong, which has been advocating for the
reintroduction of the species."We believe it's
a very important species culturally, historically
and ecologically," says Harvey Locke, a board
member with the Eleanor Luxton Historical
Foundation.
Belong, which has been advocating for the
reintroduction of the species."We believe it's
a very important species culturally, historically
and ecologically," says Harvey Locke, a board
member with the Eleanor Luxton Historical
Foundation.
But there are also outstanding concerns.
The issues range from the financial sustainability
of the project, the risk of bison wandering outside
of the park's boundaries, the potential for
transmission of diseases to wildlife and
domestic animals, and the use of fencing.
of the project, the risk of bison wandering outside
of the park's boundaries, the potential for
transmission of diseases to wildlife and
domestic animals, and the use of fencing.
The draft plan, released in September,
acknowledges those concerns.
acknowledges those concerns.
It ultimately calls for 600 to 1,000 bison as
the target population, but recommends
starting with a five-year pilot project featuring
30 to 50 bison in the backcountry around
the Panther and Dormer rivers on the east-
central side of the park."You need to start
these things small," explains Bill Hunt, manager
of resource conservation with Banff National
Park. "If we try to go too big too early with this
and fail, we'll never get another chance."
the target population, but recommends
starting with a five-year pilot project featuring
30 to 50 bison in the backcountry around
the Panther and Dormer rivers on the east-
central side of the park."You need to start
these things small," explains Bill Hunt, manager
of resource conservation with Banff National
Park. "If we try to go too big too early with this
and fail, we'll never get another chance."
So, they'll begin with young bison in a large
paddock during the winter and expand in the
spring into a new home range."The risks to
health and safety, the risks to other users
and the risks to our neighbours outside the
park are all much reduced," says Hunt,
noting fences and natural barriers will be
used to discourage bison from wandering
outside the park.
paddock during the winter and expand in the
spring into a new home range."The risks to
health and safety, the risks to other users
and the risks to our neighbours outside the
park are all much reduced," says Hunt,
noting fences and natural barriers will be
used to discourage bison from wandering
outside the park.
They will put up the fences before the
bison even arrive to see how they hold
up in the winter and whether they allow
other wildlife to pass through.
bison even arrive to see how they hold
up in the winter and whether they allow
other wildlife to pass through.
Fences will either work, or they won't
— and, according to experts, each
possibility presents its own set of concerns.
— and, according to experts, each
possibility presents its own set of concerns.
Lu Carbyn, an adjunct professor at the
University of Alberta and retired research
scientist for the Canadian Wildlife Service,
says bison reproduce at a rapid rate, raising
questions about whether predators would
be able to keep up a balance in the
ecosystem. "It's probably not likely to be
the case," he says. "Wolves would be the
main predator, although grizzlies are a
pretty formidable predator as well."
University of Alberta and retired research
scientist for the Canadian Wildlife Service,
says bison reproduce at a rapid rate, raising
questions about whether predators would
be able to keep up a balance in the
ecosystem. "It's probably not likely to be
the case," he says. "Wolves would be the
main predator, although grizzlies are a
pretty formidable predator as well."
Carbyn says it then becomes a management
issue for Parks Canada.
issue for Parks Canada.
"If you get into management, you might get into
nothing but a glorified game ranch and that's
really not what national parks are about," he
says, noting it also becomes costly. "The
beauty of Banff is that it's a wilderness area
and, in wilderness areas, you have a flow of
animals in and out of the system — not
inhibited by fences."
nothing but a glorified game ranch and that's
really not what national parks are about," he
says, noting it also becomes costly. "The
beauty of Banff is that it's a wilderness area
and, in wilderness areas, you have a flow of
animals in and out of the system — not
inhibited by fences."
Furthermore, fences are not a guarantee
of keeping the bison in the area if wolves
start to prey on the animals."They will," predicts
Carbyn. "Bison have moved some 50 kilometres
as a result of wolf predation."
of keeping the bison in the area if wolves
start to prey on the animals."They will," predicts
Carbyn. "Bison have moved some 50 kilometres
as a result of wolf predation."
It's precisely the concern of the provincial
government, which has spoken out about
the bison wandering out of the park. An
Alberta Environment and Sustainable
Resource Development spokeswoman,
Carrie Sancartier, says they continue to
work with the federal agency to address
those concerns.
government, which has spoken out about
the bison wandering out of the park. An
Alberta Environment and Sustainable
Resource Development spokeswoman,
Carrie Sancartier, says they continue to
work with the federal agency to address
those concerns.
Rancher Colin Kure, who is also with the
Alberta Fish and Game Association, says
he also doesn't believe the animals will
stay in the park.
Alberta Fish and Game Association, says
he also doesn't believe the animals will
stay in the park.
"These bison will end up first on the Ya Ha
Tinda and then it's just an overnight run
down the road into ranching country," he
says, suggesting parks officials won't be
able to handle the large animals. "A lot of
their talk about soft release and soft
hazing, it's a farce."Handling wild bison
like that is like poking a grizzly bear with
a stick. You are looking for trouble."
Tinda and then it's just an overnight run
down the road into ranching country," he
says, suggesting parks officials won't be
able to handle the large animals. "A lot of
their talk about soft release and soft
hazing, it's a farce."Handling wild bison
like that is like poking a grizzly bear with
a stick. You are looking for trouble."
Parks Canada acknowledges the potential
issues.
issues.
"There's an old joke that you can herd a
bison anywhere it wants to go," admits
Hunt. "Bison can get through just about
any fence.
bison anywhere it wants to go," admits
Hunt. "Bison can get through just about
any fence.
"If they are motivated because they don't
have enough food or resources, they'll go
anywhere they want to go. A key part of
this program is to accept that and
acknowledge that and make sure that
we have few enough bison and good
enough forage so that they are satisfied
where they are."
have enough food or resources, they'll go
anywhere they want to go. A key part of
this program is to accept that and
acknowledge that and make sure that
we have few enough bison and good
enough forage so that they are satisfied
where they are."
Hunt says they will be using small-scale
prescribed burns to renew habitats and
ensure there's enough food before adding
to the herd. All bison will have ear tags
and some will be fitted with GPS collars
to keep an eye on their movements.
prescribed burns to renew habitats and
ensure there's enough food before adding
to the herd. All bison will have ear tags
and some will be fitted with GPS collars
to keep an eye on their movements.
The draft plan, which has already
received more than 100 comments and
will continue to receive public input until
Nov. 1, suggests the reintroduction is
important for both education and
ecological restoration."They've been
gone for 130 to 150 years," says Hunt.
"We've got a lot of time to get it right
here and get them back on the land.
received more than 100 comments and
will continue to receive public input until
Nov. 1, suggests the reintroduction is
important for both education and
ecological restoration."They've been
gone for 130 to 150 years," says Hunt.
"We've got a lot of time to get it right
here and get them back on the land.
"There's nothing in this draft plan that
is a done deal," he adds.
is a done deal," he adds.
Once the public consultation is complete,
the plan will be revised and turned into
an action plan. It would also be required
to go through an environmental
assessment before the final plan
is approved. No actual timelines
have been set for the reintroduction.
the plan will be revised and turned into
an action plan. It would also be required
to go through an environmental
assessment before the final plan
is approved. No actual timelines
have been set for the reintroduction.
BRUCELLOSIS AND YELLOWSTONE
BISON IN MONTANA
CONFLICT RESEARCH CONSORTIUM
Working Paper #95-2
By Emily Davies
Department of Sociology
University of Colorado, Boulder
published 1995
This paper was written with a small
grant from the Conflict Resolution
Consortium, University of Colorado.
Funding for the Consortium and its
Small Grants Program was provided
by the William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation. The statements and ideas
presented in this paper are those of
the author and do not necessarily
represent the views of the Conflict
Resolution Consortium, the University
of Colorado, or the William and Flora
Hewlett Foundation. For more information,
contact the Conflict Resolution Consortium
, Campus Box 327, University of Colorado,
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0327. Phone:
(303) 492-1635, e-mail:
crc@cubldr.colorado.edu.
grant from the Conflict Resolution
Consortium, University of Colorado.
Funding for the Consortium and its
Small Grants Program was provided
by the William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation. The statements and ideas
presented in this paper are those of
the author and do not necessarily
represent the views of the Conflict
Resolution Consortium, the University
of Colorado, or the William and Flora
Hewlett Foundation. For more information,
contact the Conflict Resolution Consortium
, Campus Box 327, University of Colorado,
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0327. Phone:
(303) 492-1635, e-mail:
crc@cubldr.colorado.edu.
I. Summary Description
Currently, the state of Montana, in
conjunction with the federal government,
has an interim-management plan that
allows for the killing of Yellowstone buffalo
that wander outside the boundaries of the
national park. Established mainly to keep
brucellosis in check, the practice of killing
these roaming bison has sparked great
controversy in recent years.
conjunction with the federal government,
has an interim-management plan that
allows for the killing of Yellowstone buffalo
that wander outside the boundaries of the
national park. Established mainly to keep
brucellosis in check, the practice of killing
these roaming bison has sparked great
controversy in recent years.
Brucellosis, or Bang's Disease, is
commonly found in buffalo, elk and domestic
cattle. Cattle, specifically cows, are most
susceptible to the disease and its effects
however, and are prone to abortions, low
milk production and even infertility when
infected. Spread through contact with
reproductive fluids or grass that is wet with
such fluids, brucellosis is difficult to detect
and even more difficult to prevent through
inoculation. This holds particularly true for
the wild, free-roaming Yellowstone bison,
which presently number more than 4,000
within the park -- the last truly wild bison
found in North America.
commonly found in buffalo, elk and domestic
cattle. Cattle, specifically cows, are most
susceptible to the disease and its effects
however, and are prone to abortions, low
milk production and even infertility when
infected. Spread through contact with
reproductive fluids or grass that is wet with
such fluids, brucellosis is difficult to detect
and even more difficult to prevent through
inoculation. This holds particularly true for
the wild, free-roaming Yellowstone bison,
which presently number more than 4,000
within the park -- the last truly wild bison
found in North America.
Scarcity
of winter range is the only real
check on the Yellowstone buffalo, and thus,
the animals have begun to wander north of
park boundaries in search of food.
check on the Yellowstone buffalo, and thus,
the animals have begun to wander north of
park boundaries in search of food.
In response to this gradual exodus from the
park, the federal government and the state
of Montana allow buffalo that cross park
lines and threaten to mingle with domestic
cattle or damage private property to be shot.
Although there are no documented cases of
wild bison spreading the disease to cattle,
cattlemen support the shootings as they
seek to preserve Montana's brucellosis-free
status for the sake of their livelihoods and the
state economy. The National Park Service
endorses the killings as a means to control
the bison populations without contradicting
their policy of natural management within
the park.
park, the federal government and the state
of Montana allow buffalo that cross park
lines and threaten to mingle with domestic
cattle or damage private property to be shot.
Although there are no documented cases of
wild bison spreading the disease to cattle,
cattlemen support the shootings as they
seek to preserve Montana's brucellosis-free
status for the sake of their livelihoods and the
state economy. The National Park Service
endorses the killings as a means to control
the bison populations without contradicting
their policy of natural management within
the park.
II. Conflict History
Brucellosis was first discovered in North
America among Yellowstone buffalo as
early as 1917. Since 1935 it has been
estimated that the federal government
has spent more than $1.3 billion on the
disease, presumably on eradication efforts
and research. While not a new concern,
the problem of brucellosis has recently
been complicated by the vast number of
buffalo within the park. But today's record
population is in sharp contrast to the
animals' numbers at the turn of the century.
America among Yellowstone buffalo as
early as 1917. Since 1935 it has been
estimated that the federal government
has spent more than $1.3 billion on the
disease, presumably on eradication efforts
and research. While not a new concern,
the problem of brucellosis has recently
been complicated by the vast number of
buffalo within the park. But today's record
population is in sharp contrast to the
animals' numbers at the turn of the century.
By the end of the 1800s, buffalo
populations were severely depleted in
the West. Popular among Native
Americans as well as white settlers,
the animals were widely hunted for
their meat and skin. From 1896 through
1901 it was reported that bison numbers
within Yellowstone ranged from a mere
24 to 50, and still the animals were
frequently poached. As park
management became more effective
and wildlife preservation laws were
passed, the bison enjoyed greater
protection and soon began to flourish.
Their numbers increased so much in
fact, that buffalo were actively managed
by park rangers to keep populations in
check. Such killing of the animals ceased
in 1966 however, when park policy changed
and natural management was introduced
to the national park system. Since then,
bison numbers have soared to more than
4,000, a number which many critics of
the Park Service contend is beyond
Yellowstone's carrying capacity.
populations were severely depleted in
the West. Popular among Native
Americans as well as white settlers,
the animals were widely hunted for
their meat and skin. From 1896 through
1901 it was reported that bison numbers
within Yellowstone ranged from a mere
24 to 50, and still the animals were
frequently poached. As park
management became more effective
and wildlife preservation laws were
passed, the bison enjoyed greater
protection and soon began to flourish.
Their numbers increased so much in
fact, that buffalo were actively managed
by park rangers to keep populations in
check. Such killing of the animals ceased
in 1966 however, when park policy changed
and natural management was introduced
to the national park system. Since then,
bison numbers have soared to more than
4,000, a number which many critics of
the Park Service contend is beyond
Yellowstone's carrying capacity.
With greater numbers of bison in
Yellowstone comes greater likelihood
of brucellosis spreading to cattle put
to pasture near park boundaries.
Recognizing this threat and wanting
to maintain its newly declared
brucellosis-free status, the state of
Montana instituted public hunting of
buffalo that wandered across park
boundaries by a strictly regulated
permit system in 1985. This plan
was soon abandoned due to
massive public outcry however,
when the 1988-89 hunting season
saw nearly 600 bison killed. In 1991,
the present interim-management
plan was established, which calls
for roaming buffalo to be shot by
federal or state government agents.
More than 300 animals have been
killed this winter alone.
Yellowstone comes greater likelihood
of brucellosis spreading to cattle put
to pasture near park boundaries.
Recognizing this threat and wanting
to maintain its newly declared
brucellosis-free status, the state of
Montana instituted public hunting of
buffalo that wandered across park
boundaries by a strictly regulated
permit system in 1985. This plan
was soon abandoned due to
massive public outcry however,
when the 1988-89 hunting season
saw nearly 600 bison killed. In 1991,
the present interim-management
plan was established, which calls
for roaming buffalo to be shot by
federal or state government agents.
More than 300 animals have been
killed this winter alone.
There are no documented records
of Bison transmitting Brucelliosis
to Cattle
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