Held annually in early October, the National Bison Range roundup is the only roundup in the refuge system available for public viewing. Over 3500 people attended, including more than 1000 students and teachers who participated in an education program designed to teach about the refuge and roundup. The two-day event is not designed as a spectator event. It is part of routine work performed to monitor herd health and manage herd size.
A notable fact is the National Bison Range herd is considered the most disease-free and genetically pure in the nation.
When arriving at the refuge for the roundup, the first stop is the Visitor Center where visitors can find information about bison and their history. From there, visitors drive to the bison corral complex. At the corral complex, there are sturdy catwalks where spectators can more easily see the roundup up close. Along the western fence line, one can see the bison after they are cut from the herd and inspected. The Charlo Parent and Teacher Association provide a superb concession stand where visitors can buy hot dogs, hamburgers, home-baked goodies, snack items, and drinks.
This year about 400 bison were gathered and moved into the corral system where they were scanned for a microchip that is placed under the skin and behind the ear. If they were calves or did not have a chip, one was implanted. They chip identifies the bison and allows them to retrieve and update computerized information about health, sex, age and more.
After scanning the chip, they know which bison it is, what procedures need to be done and if they will return to the herd. In the corral system, they have tools and equipment to help them weigh, check for pregnancy and general health, and collect blood and hair samples for testing.
Some bison were separated out for donation, sale, and research. Removing surplus bison during the roundup is a way to help manage forage they consume on the native Palouse Prairie grasslands at the refuge. Excess animals that have accumulated in the herd during the year are provided to states or Native American tribes, used for breeding stock. Some are also sold to the public by sealed bid. Today there are over 500,000 bison on private ranches.
Principal criterion for selecting bison to be removed is to maintain appropriate age, gender, and genetic balance in the refuge herd and keep the numbers to approximately 250-325 individuals.
For more information, contact:
Refuge Manager
National Bison Range
Moiese, MT 59824
(406) 644-2211
http://www.fws.gov/bisonrange
Bisonrange@fws.gov
The National Wildlife Refuge system is a collection of habitats that make sure of the continued existence of wildlife when their natural habitats are endangered or gone. On March 14, 1903, U.S. President and conservationist, Theodore Roosevelt, created the first refuge at Pelican Island, Florida, as a federal bird preserve. Today there are over 500 refuges and more than 3,000 waterfowl production areas in the United States. The total acres of these combined areas match an area the size of Montana. Each of the fifty states has at least one refuge. The National Bison Range was added to the system in 1908 after Roosevelt visited the West and saw bison populations dwindling at an alarming rate.
If you like these articles, be the first to see them, subscribe by email (see subscribe button above), or subscribe by RSS, Twitter, or Facebook.
More articles by this author:
Comments