Bison

A collection of 34 posts

Bacterial Brucellosis Disease

Yellowstone National Park Calls for More Bison in New Plan

Yellowstone National Park is proposing a major shift in its strategy for managing bison, one that could mean larger herds, expanded hunting opportunities beyond park borders, and more bison transfers to tribal governments.

Bison

Study: Bison Herd Removes More Carbon Than World’s Largest CO2 Capture Plant

A herd of bison in Romania might actually be better for the planet than the world’s largest carbon capture facility , according to recent findings by scientists at the Yale School of the Environment.

American Buffalo

Buffalo Facts

Did you know a buffalo can jump over a six-foot fence? Or hit running speeds of 35 miles per hour? These animals may look strange and slow, but they’re a souped-up hotrod of an animal hiding in a minivan shell.

Biodiversity

How Bison Are Saving America's Lost Prairie

Bison on Oklahoma’s tall grass prairie.   NOTE: this post was originally publihsed to this site on September 13, 2021

Bison

Extinctions, Scenarios, and Assumptions: Changes in Latest Pleistocene Large Herbivore Abundance and Distribution in Western North America

“Here is another explanation of the Pleistocene Extinctions, the catastrophic event in natural history wherein over  50-large species abruptly disappeared from North America 10-12,000-years ago. Humans and climate warming are usually blamed. This author says that we should consider that more was going on than new external pressures. There

Bio-Diversity

How Bison Are Saving America's Lost Prairie

Quoting the makers of this very interesting video, “The Nature Conservancy reintroduced 300 bison to this prairie in 1993, and the herd has grown to more than 2,000 animals today. They graze on the majority of the preserve, playing an important part in enhancing the prairies. Combined with a

Bio-Diversity

Brush Sculpting

“Much has been said about using cattle as proxies for bison: What about bison as proxies for cattle?   NOTE: this article was originally published to Texas Bison in 2012. It was written by Shawn Vickers.   Wildlife management in South Texas continues to evolve on large hunting operations, and most devoted

Bio-Diversity

Bison Return to Texas Indigenous Lands

“As discussed below, efforts are underway to restore bison to native lands in Texas, and elsewhere.   NOTE: this article was originally published to TexasTribune.org on November 13, 2023. It was written by Alejandra Martinez.   Indigenous ranchers in Texas are receiving help from nonprofits to rebuild bison herds in the

"Wolves"

Bison Bunch Up to Protect Calves

Over millions of years, rangelands have evolved under grazing by nomadic herds that travel in mass, bunched up to protect both young and adults from predators. And, plants have evolved to need this. This observation is the basis for holistic range practices such as monitored, rotational grazing.   In this video,

Bison

Where the Bison Could Roam

Scott Heidebrink, the director of bison restoration for the American Prairie Reserve in northeast Montana, checks on a herd. “There are ways that bison were impacting the landscape that we haven’t even thought about,” he said.   Nomadic bison would be welcome at Pitchstone Waters.   A huge problem is that

Bison

New Research Documents Domestic Cattle DNA In Modern Bison Herds

As reported below, Texas A&M says there is no such thing as genetically-pure North American bison, including Yellowstone Park’s.   While good to know, this discovery shouldn’t change bison restoration efforts. There’s nothing new in genetic “drift”, because after 150-years of restoration releases using long distance

Bio-Diversity

All About American Bison (aka Buffalo) for Kids

This is also very interesting for grownups.

Bison

Where the Buffalo Roam, Endangered Prairies Thrive

“As discussed in the article below, when bison were allowed to graze through patches of tallgrass prairie, they boosted native plant species richness by a whopping 86 percent.   Cattle and other domestics animals –  when they are grazed in ways planned to mimic native bison herds – do the same thing.   NOTE:

Baby Bison

Baby Bison Takes on Wolf and Wins

“After being swept away from his herd while crossing the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park, a bison calf defies all odds in order to survive.   NOTE: this video was originally published to NationalGeographic.co.uk on January 15, 2021   https://sire-ngcuk-pmd.fichub.com/mpx/NGP_NatGeo_GS/775/428/

Bio-Diversity

"Conserving" Wild Bison?

The conflict between private landowners and the bison and elk living in Yellowstone National Park exists in large part  because the Yellowstone herds are infected with brucellosis. Brucellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes spontaneous abortions in cattle and related species. This epidemic disease has been virtually eliminated

Bison

New Texas A&M Research Documents Domestic Cattle Genetics in Modern Bison Herd

“Cattle and bison readily crossbreed. It was ranchers who saved bison in the late 1800’s, but they ran these bison alongside their domestic cattle herds.   New research from Texas A&M says that all bison, including the Yellowstone herds thought to be “pure,” are cattle hybrids. As explained

Bio-Diversity

Yellowstone National Park's Migrating Bison

As winter snow accumulations melt, a “green wave” of fresh growth moves upwards, into Yellowstone’s higher elevations. Bison follow the green wave and they pretty much go where they wish. All this reverses with autumn snowfalls.

Bio-Diversity

Yellowstone Starts Bison Cull as Animals Migrate to Montana

As reported below, Yellowstone’s migrating bison are once again being killed because they carry brucellosis.   Yellowstone’s bison would not be a threat to domestic livestock if: 1) all bison were vaccinated against brucellosis and 2) all cattle with whom they might share winter ranges were vaccinated against brucellosis.

Bison

He Spent Decades Protecting Buffalo. A Microscopic Invader Threatens That Work

According the article below, Mycoplasma bovis, which is common in cattle but rarely lethal for that animal, is a rapidly an emerging killer of buffalo. Outbreaks are spiking in some herds, with mortalities of 40-50%.   The New York Times blames the disease on global warming. But the medical literature says

Bison

Buffalo Gals

“Three ladies raise bison in South Dakota, Colorado and Texas.   NOTE: this article was originally published to CowGirlmagazine.com on April 13, 2021. It was written by Karen Weintraub.   Nearly extinct by 1900, America’s native bison are returning to the range. Meet three women who are among those restoring

Bison

Amazing Graze

Wildlife management in South Texas continues to evolve on large hunting operations, and most devoted land owners are seeking an effective non-cattle grazing solution. Enter the amazing American Bison. NOTE: this article below was originally published to Texas Bison’s 2012 Journal. Document above can be found here.

Arizona Game and Fish Commission

Bison Herd To Be Culled On North Rim Of Grand Canyon National Park

Limited hunting of bison is to be used to manage herd numbers in Grand Canyon National Park. Let us hope this common sense catches on elsewhere, including Yellowstone.   NOTE: this article was originally published to National Parks Traveler’s Apple News Channel.   An agreement allows the Arizona Game and Fish

Biodiversity

Documents Detail Push To Manage Yellowstone Bison as Cattle

The article below summarizes various objections to managing Yellowstone bison more like cattle in order to control brucellosis, among other things. Yellowstone’s elk and bison are now a regional reservoir for this disease, which causes spontaneous abortion in cattle and wild animals and can threaten human health. Because of

Bison

First Bison Calf

The gestation period for the American bison is 9 1/2 months. Under normal conditions, cows have their calves from mid-April through June. Cows generally have one calf per year, but twins may occur very rarely.Calves are born big.   American bison calves weigh a massive 30 to 70 lbs.

"Invasion Biology"

Scientists Disagree on Bison Impacts to Yellowstone’s Northern Range

“According to Yellowstone’s senior bison biologist who is quoted below, Yellowstone is the only place in North America with a complete set of predators and herbivores – both of which shape their habitat in ways conventional “managers” neither understand nor like.   NOTE: this article was originally published to NationalParksTraveler.org