Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Bison Come Home to Ft. Peck

credit: Defenders of  Wildlife
Sixty genetically "pure" bison were transported from Yellowstone National Park to Fort Peck Indian Reservation in eastern Montana and released to the wild on March 19th. The sixty represent a historic return of the buffalo to their home ranges after being virtually exterminated by Anglo settlers of the Great Plains. They are the first Yellowstone buffalo to be relocated to the Great Plains. Half of the newly released bison will be moved to nearby Fort Belknap Reservation and both herds will be managed by the Indian tribes as a cultural resource. Defenders of Wildlife has helped the tribes secure grazing permits, pay for fencing, transportation, and lobby against political reaction in the state legislature. Welcome home, Tatanka!