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Why Bison Belong in Banff National Park

Here at WILD - as you might have guessed – we’re pretty passionate about wild-places and wild-things.  In the western US and Canada, the buffalo (plains bison) is an iconic example of this wild-ness.  So, it goes without saying that we’re pretty excited about a new initiative to bring the wild plains bison back to Banff National Park (Canada)!  Here’s a bit of  info on “Bison Belong,” to whet your interest and some great opportunities for you to get involved:

Building on the 1997 Banff Park management plan’s commitment to consider reintroduction of wild plains bison, the 2010 management plan is expected to contain a promise to move ahead with a reintroduction of wild bison to Banff National Park if there is public support. The Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation (which is dedicated to the history, culture and ecology of Banff and the Bow Valley) wants to work with other like- minded businesses, organizations and individuals to show broad and enthusiastic public support for returning wild bison to Banff National Park.

Wild plains bison (also called buffalo) are a natural part of the Banff National Park ecosystem. Unfortunately, they were wiped out in the 19th century when almost all plains bison were rendered extinct. Here is a brief outline of the long association of bison with Banff National Park and the Bow Valley:

a. pre-history

When excavations were undertaken for the Whyte Museum in Banff in the 1960s a large bison skull was found buried in the soil. Similarly, when excavations were undertaken for the Bison Courtyard on Bear Street in Banff, a bison skull dating from 4,000 years ago was found.

b. historical period

1807-10 David Thompson killed bison on the Kootenay Plains and reported a bison pound on Howse Pass (source Kay, C. and C. Whyte, 2001 “Reintroduction of Bison into the Rocky Mountain Parks of Canada: Historical and Archeological Evidence”, in Crossing Boundaries to Restore Species and Habitats in Parks and on Public Lands, Proceedings of the 2001 George Wright Society Biennial Conference)

1859 August 27, James Hector spotted a buffalo track in the Siffleur River Valley within eight km of Pipestone Pass. On August 26 he noted in his journal that his guide William told him he had seen a group of seven bison in the larch meadows of the Pipestone River two years before (source Spry, Irene ed. 1968 The Papers of the Palliser Expedition 1857-60, Champlain Society)

1873 Reverend George MacDougall was invited by the Stoney people to build a mission in the Bow Valley and he determined to build it at Morley because of the presence of bison and rich pasture. He wrote:

“From the very high foot-hill we gazed upon this prospect with admiration and wonder. Within three miles stood the grand old mountain, the wild sheep and goat sporting on its highest summit. At the foot of the hill, and in perfect ignorance of our presence, a band of buffalo were feeding in the richest pasture. To the right of us, on the north bank of the river, lay the location which we have selected for our new mission.” Reverend George McDougall, May 7, 1873.

1872-74 Alloway and Mackay captured wild basin calves during hunts in Saskatchewan that evolved into a herd kept in Manitoba that ultimately became owned by Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona. Some of these bison would find their way to Banff in 1898.

1883 Professor C.A. Kenaston spotted the trail of the last wild bison in the South Saskatchewan watershed (the Bow is part of the South Saskatchewan) at the “elbow of the South Saskatchewan” (source Hornaday W.T. 1889 (reprinted 2002), The Extermination of the American Bison, Smithsonian Washington, DC, p.504

1898 Rocky Mountains National Park (now called Banff National Park) Superintendent Howard Douglas fenced in 500 acres of Banff Park as a “buffalo park” to receive a gift from Toronto lawyer T.G. Blackstock of three formerly wild bison purchased from a remnant population held in Texas. Three months later Donald Smith shipped thirteen bison from the Alloway and Mackay herd to Banff which included the great Sir Donald, the largest and oldest bull surviving from the wild herds. (source W.F. Lothian, 1979, “Sir Donald, the Last of the Canadian Wild Buffalo”, Intercom, Indian and Northern Affairs, Hull, Quebec)

1907 Rocky Mountains Park Superintendent Howard Douglas asked Norman Luxton of Banff to help him buy for Canada the Pablo Buffalo Herd of Rivalli, Montana. The Pablo herd started from a few calves and had been bred up to become the largest surviving plains bison herd. Luxton travelled from Banff to Winnipeg to persuade Minister of the Interior Frank Oliver who was receptive to the idea and the purchase was made. Douglas and Luxton participated in the great buffalo round up which took six years. Ultimately, 708 buffalo were shipped to Canada, mostly to Elk Island National Park. These in turn were used to create the herd at Buffalo National Park at Wainwright, Alberta and some would come to Banff in 1911 (source Luxton, N.K., 1912 “The Pablo Buffalo Herd” in Eleanor G. Luxton, 1974 Banff: Canada’s First National Park, Summerthought, Banff.)

1909 Sir Donald dies in the Banff “buffalo park”

1911 Thirty three Pablo herd bison come to Banff’s “buffalo park” also known as the Buffalo Paddock. (source, N. Luxton above)

1983 A bison bull escaped from Banff’s Buffalo Paddock and resisted all attempts to round him up. He successfully wintered in Banff’s Bow Valley in and around Hillsdale Meadows before voluntarily returning to the Buffalo Paddock in spring in search of females.

1996 Banff Bow Valley study recognizes that the fence around the Buffalo Paddock combined with the other recent developments in and around the Town of Banff formed a serious impediment to the movement of non-captive wildlife in the Banff Bow Valley.

1997 Banff National Park Management Plan provided that the Buffalo Paddock fence be removed but also stated that release of wild bison should be studied.

2009 Banff Park Management Plan review draft contemplated re-establishment of a wild buffalo herd in Banff National Park

2010 (March) IUCN the World Conservation Union, issued scientific report on the ecology and history of bison in North America and the Canadian release is accompanied by a call to reintroduce wild bison to Banff National Park

2010-2011 Citizens, stakeholders and different jurisdictions are engaging with Parks Canada in the effort to re-introduce wild Bison in Banff National Park.

What you can do:

We invite you to lend your personal, business or organizational support to return wild plains bison to Banff National Park where they belong. You can show support for the return of bison by:

• Lending your logo and voice as an initial supporter of the campaign which will appear on the Bison Belong website (bisonbelong.ca) that will go live in May
• Working with the Bison Belong campaign coordinator to personalize your participation
• Networking among your friends and colleagues to bring more public support for the Bison Belong campaign
• Supporting upcoming Bison Belong events in the Banff community
• Communicating directly with Parks Canada and the Minister of the Environment to show your support for the reintroduction of wild bison to Banff National Park
• Visit www.Bisonbelong.ca website to learn more about Bison re-introduction in Banff National Park.

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