This was a collective effort of conservation between the Minnesota Zoo and the Department of Natural Resources.
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There was once a time when wild bison once roamed Minnesota prairies free, but herds of the giant animal were slaughtered when farmers migrated to Minnesota in the 1800s, forcing buffalo to the Dakotas for refuge.
Eleven female bison are settling into their new home, coming from Blue Mound State Park and the Minnesota Zoo.
Kathy Dummer, regional manager of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Department, said efforts were being made over the last four years to plan the conservation of these genetically rare bison.
According to the Officials at the Park, they are working hard to increase the Bison population from 11 to around 30 or 40. Next spring, cows will be bred and calved, and a bull will be introduced into the state park.
Tony Fisher, the Minnesota Zoo’s beasts compilation boss said, “The bison were actually motivated anywhere from 20 mil to actually less than a singular, 000 animals [in the early] 1900’s”. North American bison herds were once estimated at 30 and 60 million animals, but they were hunted to near-extinction in the late 19th century. The state park is also nearby possible research partners and various educational institutions. More than 200,000 people live within 50 miles of the state park.
The public will eventually be allowed to drive their vehicles through the bison range.
It took some cajoling to get the bison to move to the temporary holding pen so that they can familiarize themselves with their new habitat.
The entire campground of the park is closed from early to mid-October in order for the bison to acclimatize in their new breeding ground. The park office and waterfalls area of the park is still open.
In 2012, the Minnesota Zoo and the DNR had an agreement to preserve and protect the population of American bison.
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The rare type of bison was discovered in Blue Mounds State Park near Luverne, Minnesota.
