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Births Boost Bison Herd At Chickasaw National Recreation Area

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Published Date

June 19, 2019
chickasaw national recreation area, national park, bison, calf

New bison calves/NPS.

The bison herd at Chickasaw National Recreation Area has officially grown larger! The first calf was born on Mother's Day, and two more have been born in the following weeks. The Oklahoma herd now consists of ten bison: one bull, six cows, and three calves.

"The bison herd at Chickasaw National Recreation Area has become a mainstay for the park,” says Chickasaw Superintendent Bill Wright. “When you think of Chickasaw NRA you think of bison. They are synonymous with the other iconic symbols we have here. It is always wonderful to see them thrive."

The ten bison are direct descendents from a small herd originating in the Wichita Mountains National Refuge, transplanted from that protected area to the park in 1920 and moved to their current upland prairie pasture in 1934.

Bison once roamed the plains by the millions, but by the late 1800's less than a thousand still survived. Historically, the springs once attracted herds of bison that needed a watering hole, and today park staff coordinate with other groups, including the Choctaw Nation, to maintain the health of the herd. Thanks to restoration efforts, nearly half a million bison now roam across the continent. The Chickasaw herd is best seen from the bison viewpoint on Highway 77.

 

 

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