It has been a six-year long effort, but November 1st, 2015, also known as National Bison Day, a herd of bison will be set free to roam their new homes in Fort Collins’ Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Larimer County’s Red Mountain Open Space.
Returning the American Buffalo to Colorado
For centuries, North America was home to over 30 million bison, also known as the American Buffalo. Then, in the 1800, came the pioneers and modern developments and infrastructure caused the bison population to dwindle. Innovation and modernization is great, but it can take it’s toll on the environment and the wildlife. So can poachers. Pioneering and poaching was a deadly combination for the North American bison and soon, millions were reduced to mere hundreds.
Conservation efforts have now secured the future of the American Buffalo, a.k.a. bison, and we will soon see them back on the Colorado plains where they belong.
Photo: Bison and calf, NPS, Yellowstone National Park
Today, the largest herd of pure bison can be found in Yellowstone National Park, but there is a glitch: these bison carry a contagious disease called brucellosis that causes miscarriages or stillbirths.
Science and technology have made it possible to protect and preserve the genetically pure bison
Thankfully, Yellowstone managed to quarantine a few bison that remained disease free. A group of reproductive experts then took these disease free pure bison, and with the aid of embryo transfers and artificial insemination, 10 genetically pure bison are now ready to be released onto the Colorado plains.
This herd has a few mature female bison that will be the mothers of all other bison to come. This is the start of a whole new chapter for wildlife in Colorado.
10 genetically pure bison will soon call Fort Collins, CO their home. And hopefully live long and prosper.
Photo: NPS, Wind Cave National Park, North Dakota
Conservation works!
This is also a reminder that although man can cause the destruction and the extinction of nature and wildlife; man can also put nature back together again. Conservation efforts are important. It allows for modern innovation, without the destruction of our environment.
If you want to read more about the new bison, check out this article.