American Bison Society Newsletter

Transcription

1 American Bison Society Newsletter Mission: The American Bison Society works with a broad range of partners to build the scientific and social bases to achieve ecological restoration of North American bison. ISSUE 4 JUNE 2008 ABS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT 2008 American Bison Society Conference: Building Blocks for Bison Ecological Restoration November 17 and 18 in Rapid City, South Dakota Kent H. Redford The 2008 ABS conference will include presentations on the latest scientific, management, and policy developments, and provide a rich opportunity to further the shared vision of bison ecological restoration. Talks will be organized around the six main themes below. Abstracts for presentations are welcome. Two keynote speakers have been invited to introduce each topic and frame the sessions: American Bison Society c/o WCS Institute Wildlife Conservation Society 2300 Southern Blvd. Bronx, NY ABS@wcs.org 1. Genetic issues influencing ecological restoration (Keynotes James Derr, Texas A&M, and a representative from US Fish and Wildlife Service) 2. Ecological role of bison in ecosystems (Sam Fuhlendorf, Oklahoma State University, and Dan Frandsen, Parks Canada) 3. Best practices and tools for disease management (Jack Rhyan, USDA-APHIS, and John Nishi, EcoBorealis Consulting) 4. Management and conservation on mixed-use landscapes (Gord Vaadeland, Sturgeon River Bison Stewards, and Sean Gerrity, American Prairie Foundation) 5. Economic and social context for bison restoration (Ray Rasker, Headwaters Economics, and John Flocchini, National Bison Association) 6. State/Provincial forum on bison management (Bill Bates, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and Robert Stephenson, Alaska Fish and Game) The conference will be held at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, 2111 N. LaCrosse St., Rapid City, SD. Activities will include a Bison Fair of posters and exhibits, hosted receptions on November 16 and 17, and a banquet on November 18. There will be an award for best student presentation. The full agenda, registration details, and guidelines for submitting abstracts are posted at 1

2 Please contact Keith Aune Catherine Grippo or Eva Fearn for further information, guidelines, or to reserve space at the Bison Fair. REGIONAL NEWS The following updates have been edited from materials provided by the program contacts. Alaska Wood Bison Restoration: There is progress in the effort to restore wood bison to three areas in interior Alaska. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is working with Parks Canada/Elk Island National Park (EINP) and other agencies to make final arrangements to transport 54 young wood bison from the park to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) near Anchorage. The animals were selected during a roundup in January when Parks Canada staff and volunteers moved nearly the entire herd through the park's handling facility. Participants included Dr. Bob Gerlach, Alaska State Veterinarian; Mike Miller, Director of AWCC; and Randy Rogers from ADF&G. Dr. James Derr of Texas A&M University obtained samples for genetic studies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the wood bison s endangered status would apply. The USFWS issued an import permit in February 2008 and the State of Alaska will work with the USFWS to minimize the regulatory complications that can result from endangered species status. Complications in obtaining a U.S. Department of Agriculture import permit delayed the transport of wood bison to Alaska, but the USDA conducted a disease risk assessment for all ungulates at EINP, and allowed the importation of wood bison as of June. The animals will be transported either by truck or by air to Alaska, and will be maintained in a holding facility for about two years for additional health monitoring. ADF&G will work with stakeholders to prepare cooperative management plans and prepare for the first release to the wild, planned for 2010 or Contact: Bob Stephenson, bob.stephenson@alaska.gov. Montana Quarantine Project Announces Availability of Yellowstone Bison for Conservation and Restoration: Some Yellowstone bison are graduating through a State/Federal approved quarantine protocol, making them available for distribution. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) will be soliciting letters of interest this July. MFWP and the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service have been conducting a quarantine feasibility study since Wild bison calves that tested negative for brucellosis were placed in a quarantine facility near Yellowstone Park as an alternative to being sent to slaughter. These calves have been tested routinely and allowed to mature and reproduce and were expected to deliver their first batch of offspring this May. The agencies hope to distribute approximately 200 brucellosis-free bison of Yellowstone origin for conservation and restoration purposes over the next four years. If all goes as planned, the first group of 23 adult females with calves and 8 males will be eligible for release this fall or winter to a worthy conservation project. Eligibility requirements for the final destination of these unique animals include: 1) they cannot be used for commercial ventures, and 2) the herd must be monitored for health following release. MFWP has 2

3 PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST [Full versions or Web links for many of these publications can be found on the ABS portal.] Arthur, J Home on the range: National refuge gives bison a place to roam. Horizon Air Magazine 19(5): 10-22, Briske, D.D., J.D. Derner, J.R. Brown, S.D. Fuhlendorf, W.R. Teague, K.M. Havstad, R.L. Gillen, A.J. Ash, and W.D. Willms Rotational grazing on rangelands: Reconciliation of perception and experimental evidence. Rangeland Ecology and Management 61(1): Egan, T Restoration row. The New York Times (28 May 2008). Ketcham, C They shoot buffalo, don t they: Hazing America s last wild herd. Harpers Magazine, June 2008: List, R., G. Ceballos, C. Curtin, P.J.P. Gogan, J. Pacheco, and J. Truett Historic distribution and challenges to bison recovery in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Conservation Biology 21(6): Miller, B.J., R.P. Reading, D.C. Biggines, J.K. Detling, S.C. Forrest, J.L. Hoogland, J. Javersak, S.D. Miller, J. Proctor, J. Truett, and D.W. Uresk Prairie dogs: An ecological review and current biopolitics. Journal of Wildlife Management 1(8): assembled an advisory council to evaluate restoration proposals and provide input into the distribution process. The initial step in the process will include submitting a letter of intent to the MFWP Director explaining the general nature of the conservation or restoration project and its goals. MFWP will then invite select candidate projects for full proposals and further evaluation by the Advisory Council. The goal is to provide a unique set of conservation animals in order to help restore bison to suitable habitats. Contact: Ken McDonald, Wildlife Division Administrator, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, kmcdonald@mt.gov. Centennial Celebration of the National Bison Range: The National Bison Range was established in 1908, when President Theodore Roosevelt authorized funds to purchase suitable land for conservation of bison. It was the first time in U.S. history that Congress appropriated tax dollars to buy land specifically for the conservation of wildlife. Bison were essentially America s first endangered species, more than a half century prior to the Endangered Species Act. The American Bison Society, formed in 1905, helped lobby Congress to set aside suitable land for a bison reserve. Private bison herds in western Montana existed 30 years earlier when a Pend d Oreille man of the Flathead Reservation returned from the Plains with six bison calves. The owner, Samuel Walking Coyote, sold this growing herd to Michel Pablo and Charles Allard, both men of Indian and European descent. Pablo and Allard bought additional bison from Buffalo Jones, and the Pablo-Allard herd thrived. In 1908, Morton Elrod from the University of Montana was commissioned by the ABS to locate suitable range land. He and Duncan McDonald explored suitable sites. According to accounts, McDonald stated that the Indian community would support the proposal to buy bison and place them on a Government Bison Range within their reservation. Land was purchased from the Flathead Nation in Meanwhile the ABS solicited donations throughout the country to purchase bison, much of it collected by women s groups, totaling $10,000 (hundreds of thousands in today s dollars). While Pablo sold his 700 bison to the Canadian government, there was still some heritage of that herd in Montana, owned by Alicia Conrad. She sold and donated 36 bison to the ABS, and, at the same time, Charles Goodnight, the famous Texas rancher, donated two more. With the addition of three more from Austin Corbin s herd in New Hampshire, this group became the founding animals of the National Bison Range. Only 12 animals have been added since. Contact: Bill West, Bill_West@fws.gov. New York Queens Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): The Bronx Zoo and Queens Zoo have small bison herds with a long history in captivity. These animals are related to the bison that the original American Bison Society shipped to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, OK, and Wind Cave National Park, SD, as Julie Larsen Maher, WCS part of the first-ever wildlife reintroduction program in U.S. history. Last year, the genetics lab at Texas A&M, led by James Derr, tested the Bronx Zoo s 12 bison, and did not find any domestic cattle 3

4 PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST, Continued Nesheim, D Who wants a buffalo? South Dakota s fenced herds and experiments in management, Department of History (Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research), University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Nishi, J.S., C. Stephen, and B.T. Elkin Implications of agricultural and wildlife policy on management and eradication of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis in free-ranging wood bison of northern Canada. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 969: Rosas, C., D. Engle, J.H. Shaw, and M. Palmer Seed dispersal by Bison bison in a tallgrass prairie. Journal of Vegetation Science 19(6): Shaw, J.H Grazers and Grasslands: Restoring Biodiversity to the Prairies. Pp in E. Fearn, ed. State of the Wild : A Global Portrait of Wildlife, Wildlands, and Oceans. Washington, DC: Island Press. Wilson, G.A., J.S. Nishi, B.T. Elkin, and C. Strobeck Effects of a recent founding event and intrinsic population dynamics on genetic diversity in an ungulate population. Conservation Genetics 6(6): genes. Recently, Derr s lab tested the 14 bison at the Queens Zoo, and again found no domestic cattle DNA alleles for the 14 markers in their nuclear introgression panel. While this is good news, the current technology with which labs assess bison genetics requires a much larger sample size to absolutely confirm that there is no cattle hybridization in the Bronx and Queens Zoo herds. A fine-tuned genotyping technology (single nucleotide polymorphism) needs to be developed. This will make it possible to assess small, captive herds that could potentially contribute valuable genetic stock to reintroduction sites or existing wild herds. Contact: James Derr, Jderr@cvm.tamu.edu. Saskatchewan Bison Stewards Help Manage Bison on Private Land: The southwest corner of Prince Albert National Park in central Saskatchewan is home to Canada s only free ranging herd of plains bison still within historic range. The areas adjacent to the park are also home to this national wildlife treasure. What was once an occasional occurrence has now become a part of life on the park s west side, and bison are now a regular part of the landscape. Bison spend time on neighboring private farmland, in groups from 3 to 300. This can become a challenge as large groups of bison can cause significant damage to crops and fences. On the other hand, bison can provide significant economic opportunities for the area, as evidenced by the recent emergence of some promising eco-tourism businesses. In June 2006, the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards (SRPBS) formed to address these challenges and opportunities. The group consists of local landowners, stakeholders, and interested citizens. Some current SRPBS projects include fencing of key areas and river crossings, controlled hazing of bison off sensitive areas, education on the national significance of this herd, and development of eco-tourism and communication strategies. The SRPBS work closely with Prince Albert National Park and Saskatchewan Environment to implement a management strategy to create an environment where wild plains bison can co-exist with local landowners in a way that is beneficial to both. Contact: Gord Vaadeland, SRPBS Executive Director, vaadeland@sasktel.net. Grasslands National Park: Located in southwest Saskatchewan, Grasslands National Park is the first national park in Canada to preserve a portion of mixed prairie grasslands. Historically, this area was home to millions of free-roaming bison. Since official park establishment in 2001, the parcels of land owned by Parks Canada within the 225,000 acre proposed area have been excluded from large herbivore grazing. The disappearance of the bison in the late 19th century has had profound impacts on grassland ecosystems in the prairies, which have traditionally relied on grazing by large herbivores to create the diverse pattern of vegetation required to sustain a large variety of native species. Today, native prairie is one of the most threatened ecosystems in Canada, with only 19% of Saskatchewan s original mixed grass prairie ecosystem remaining intact, and much fragmented into small parcels. Grazing was recognized as a critical ecological process missing in this ecosystem, so in May 2006, 71 plains bison (30 male calves, 30 female calves, and 11 female yearlings) were successfully released into a 44,000 acre area within the West Block of Grasslands National Park. The bison, originally from Elk Island National Park, had been closely monitored and were deemed to be both genetically pure and free from reportable diseases. This reintroduction of the ecological role of grazing was part of the nationally funded Prairie Persists project, with a goal to improve aspects of ecological integrity in the park. The reintroduction should help restore native prairie disturbed by cultivation, control the spread of exotic plant species, and offer visitors an opportunity to learn more about this unique area. Parks Canada also recognizes 4

5 that the opportunity to preserve this area is dependent upon the stewardship and support of local communities, First Nations, stakeholders, and visitors. The herd has grown to over 90 animals; the goal is to have as many as 350 bison in the current Bison Reintroduction area. It is also possible that as more land is acquired within the proposed park boundary, the park could support a conservation herd of 1,000 animals. Contact: Adrian Sturch, adrian.sturch@pc.gc.ca. Utah Henry Mountains and Book Cliffs: In the Henry Mountains area of Utah, bison management and expansion activities continue. This area covers approximately 300,000 acres, stretching from Blue Bench on the north to Eggnog on the south. Elevations range from 4,800 feet to 11,500 feet. Annual precipitation averages 18 inches in the higher elevations and 8 inches on the lower foothills. The major vegetative communities found in the area are salt desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, aspen-conifer, and sub-alpine. Bison use is found throughout the area, in all elevations, topographies, vegetative communities, and seasons. Land ownership of the area used by bison is ~86% BLM land, ~11% state land, ~1.5% private land, and ~1.4% National Park land. The Henry Mountains herd is one of only four free roaming, genetically pure herds remaining on public lands in North America. After reintroduction, monitoring, and management plan work, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and other stakeholders have counted over 500 bison in the area. Current management practices include an annual helicopter survey, summer ground classification, sport harvest, and extensive habitat management. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has also had a preliminary plan approved to establish a new herd in the Book Cliffs area and plans to start a reintroduction in the winter of For more information on these two projects, their management goals, forage allocation, recreational opportunities, and observations of interaction with domestic livestock, contact: Bill Bates, billbates@utah.gov. MEETINGS July 11-16, 2008: Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Ramkota Best Western, Rapid City, SD. Keith Aune, WCS, will present on the ecological restoration of bison in North America. July 13-18, 2008: The Society for Conservation Biology Annual Meeting, From the Mountains to the Sea, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Kent Redford, WCS, will present a short talk entitled, Why Does the American Bison Need to be Restored? Discussion will follow. 5

6 AWARDS & GRANTS Florence Gardipee, a doctoral student at the University of Montana working on bison genetic sampling in Yellowstone, was awarded $2,000 for first place for Best Masters of Science Oral Presentation at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) conference held in Phoenix, AZ, in November Her talk was entitled Strong substructure of Greater Yellowstone Area bison revealed by mitochondrial DNA from fecal samples. AISES is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is to increase the representation of American Indian and Alaskan Natives in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. Ms. Gardipee is also a recent recipient of a 2007/2008 Graduate Research Fellowship from the Wildlife Conservation Society that supports her continued studies on bison genetics in the Greater Yellowstone. September 14-17, 2008: European Bison in Natura 2000 Network, hosted by the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Krosno and Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Participants will exchange information and ideas about wisent breeding and further perspectives on the species in Europe. September 28-October 2, 2008: Pathways to Success: Integrating Human Dimensions into Fish and Wildlife Management, Estes Park, Colorado. John Fraser, WCS, will present a paper entitled, American Perceptions on Bison Preservation in the American West, based on a national survey of attitudes and values toward bison. November 8-12, 2008: The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Miami Florida. The American Bison Society will host a lunch meeting on building the social and scientific bases for bison ecological restoration. In addition, Keith Aune, WCS, Cormack Gates, U. of Calgary, John Gross, NPS, and Peter Gogan, USGS, will present A Conservation Strategy for North American Bison, highlighting the IUCN Bison Action Plan. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Dissertation Study Analyzes Implications of Bison Reintroduction on Reservations: Trudy Ecoffey at South Dakota State University and Oglala Sioux Parks & Recreation is finishing her dissertation analyzing the management methods of four reintroduced herds in South Dakota: one family-owned, one community-run, one university-run, and one tribal-run. Her objectives were to identify management practices associated with the sustainability of bison; to explore the role of American Indian culture in the management of bison for sustainability; and to investigate rangeland criteria that can be used to measure sustainability of bison. Here is a glimpse of some of the areas she is investigating: Management - All four case study herd managers felt that a hands off approach with bison was the best type of management. There was little to no handling; no vaccinations; little or no disease testing unless needed; no assistance during calving or breeding; and minimal supplemental feeding unless over-stocked for the pasture size or during extreme weather conditions. None of the managers practiced early weaning of calves or culling of older animals. Only one manager was interested in genetic testing, and none of the four managers were concerned about the cow to bull ratio or calving rate. Ecology - All managers were concerned about the health of the land and drought, and believed that the bison pastures were in good condition despite the ongoing drought. One manager felt that there was more wildlife in the pasture than before the bison were reintroduced. One believed there were more native grasses coming back since the reintroduction of bison. Stocking rate for all four case studies was dictated by Bureau of Indian Affairs regulations and all four managers felt that the regulations were adequate. Only the university herd manager implemented a rotational grazing system. All four managers would increase the land base for bison if given the opportunity. Ecological concerns included wildfires, fencing carrying capacity, BIA regulations, and range conditions. Economics - All four managers agreed that being self-sustaining was a goal and were selling bison meat, meat products such as jerky, and bison 6

7 ABOUT THE AMERICAN BISON SOCIETY Originally founded in 1905 by pioneering conservationists Theodore Roosevelt and William Hornaday, the American Bison Society helped save the bison from extinction. One hundred years later, in 2005, the American Bison Society was re-launched by the Wildlife Conservation Society to secure the ecological future of bison in North America. ABOUT THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. hunts. One manager was very interested in exploring bison by-products and one manager was particularly interested in ecotourism to help support the herd. None of the managers were interested in selling bison at live auctions out of respect for the animal, but the family-owned herd manager did sell live bison for financial reasons. The managers said the market for bison meat was difficult at this time. All four managers give most of the skulls away for spiritual and cultural purposes and give meat away for certain cultural activities, such as pow-wows, funerals, wakes, and ceremonial purposes. Contact: Trudy Ecoffey, NEWSLETTER NEWS The ABS Newsletter archive has been moved to the ABS Web portal s Document Store: You must be a registered user of the site to access the Document Store. To subscribe to future newsletters: 1. Click on the ABS Newsletter Archive folder in the Document Store. Item will appear as a menu option within the Document Store. (See image below.) 2. Click on the Item menu and select Subscribe from the drop-down menu. 3. You will receive a confirmation notifying you that you have successfully subscribed to ABS Newsletter Archive. 4. Once you have successfully subscribed to the newsletter folder, you will be automatically notified via when future newsletters are posted to the portal. American Bison Society c/o WCS Institute Wildlife Conservation Society 2300 Southern Boulevard Bronx, NY If you would like to contribute a story or photo to the ABS Newsletter, please ABS@wcs.org. Visit the ABS on the Web: 7