What Will Happen To Yellowstone's Bison?

Above, a Yellowstone bison herd in a riverside meadow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The population of wild bison in Yellowstone National Park has been a large one. The mix of bison and people has been problematic over the years with many encounters with tragic consequences.

Recently, an 83 year old woman was gored by a bison.

RV Travel reported that a plan to manage the bison population has been developed.

They begin with:

Theodore Roosevelt said, “The extermination of the buffalo has been a veritable tragedy of the animal world.” While they didn’t quite reach extinction, it was close. Because of that, each year millions of tourists view these magnificent creatures with awe in Yellowstone National Park. But the bison presence isn’t an easy thing. Too many bison in the park’s confines can lead to problems. What will happen to Yellowstone’s bison? 

Environmental impact statement tells the tale

Today, June 6, the Park Service published its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for a Bison Management Plan. We now have an answer to the question. The FEIS presents a broad range of actions for managing bison inside the park. The Services says the plan allows them to manage bison based on new scientific information and changed circumstances. A major part of the plan includes exploring ways to increase the transfer of bison to American Indian Tribes, and to continue working closely with Tribal Nations and agency partners.

 To read more, go here.