Secretary Kempthorne Launches Bison Conservation Initiative

Speaking to an audience that included Director Mary Bomar and Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis,  Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne last week announced an initiative whereby DOI will work with state, tribal and agricultural interests to strengthen bison conservation efforts to help this iconic species recover and thrive.

“One of the classic symbols of the American frontier is the image of vast herds of bison grazing on the western plains,” Kempthorne said. “Americans today still find inspiration in bison ranging freely on the landscape, as Yellowstone National Park demonstrates.”

“While the days of millions of free-roaming bison are gone,” Kempthorne noted, “our initiative acknowledges the important role of bison on the landscape, in tribal culture, and in our national heritage, and will work in partnerships to sustain a strong and well-coordinated conservation effort throughout this country, throughout this century.”

There are more than 500,000 plains bison (Bison bison) in North America, most privately owned, in herds of less than 1,000 that are fenced within relatively small areas.  There are also 4,000 woods bison, a different subspecies, free-roaming in Canada.  Interior now manages almost 7,000 bison in seven national wildlife refuges and five national parks.

Dr. Herbert Frost, NPS Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship and Science (NRSS),  remarked: "This initiative will enable the NPS and partners to better address the health and genetic integrity of NPS bison herds, and to ensure stewardship of this iconic species for future generation as part of our national natural legacy".

NRSS staff worked for a year with USFWS peers to draft the initiative. The initiative will operate through an interagency working group to coordinate management and science needs and activities related to Interior’s bison herds and to carry out cooperative efforts with other parties. The group has representatives of NPS that may include park, regional and WASO staff and are scheduled for a first meeting at the American Bison Society meeting this November in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The working group is charged with several specific actions, including these key efforts:

• Retaining the genetic integrity of Interior’s bison herds and maximizing their genetic diversity by implementing recommendations of the Department-sponsored bison genetics workshop held earlier this year;
• Involving tribal bison experts in the Department’s activities, and assisting with tribal bison initiatives;
• Convening a bison disease workshop in fiscal year 2009 to develop guidelines and protocols for addressing diseases affecting bison and bison conservation efforts.