Wild bison calves born in Banff National Park 'a huge step' to reintroduction

Bison recently introduced into Banff's backcountry are settling into their new homes bywelcoming new offspring to the herd.

Parks Canada says it's the first time wild bison calves have beenborn in Banff's backcountryin 140 years.

The first calfwas born on Earth Day last weekend, and two more tiny bison have joined the herdsince. Parks Canada expects seven more calves to follow soon.

"It's fantastic. We knew it was coming, but when the message came out of the backcountry on Saturday that the first calf had already dropped, I think everyone was pleasantly surprised," said Bill Hunt, aresource conservation manager with Parks Canada.

"It's a really key step, and the fact that these young calves look so healthy and so well adjusted in this habitat is really encouraging."

Protective mothers

Known as red coats, the baby bison are currently sticking close to their motherswho can be quite assertive, Hunt said.

The male bisonseem to be curious, but arekeeping their distance. Hunt saidgrizzly bears have been known to seek outelk calves, but the current paddock that the bison call home offers some protection from predators.

The calves are expected to become more playful in the near future, butare currently enjoying the fresh snowfall in the Banff area.

Officials also hopethat the calving bison will help tether the plains animals to the area.

"It's a huge step in this process," said Hunt."We know that where a young female drops her calfit really ties her to that space even if she was born somewhere else."

While many remember what Parks Canada calls a "display herd" of bison housed in a paddock near the Banff townsite until 1997, this new herd represents a return to wild animals.

In February, 16 bison 10 pregnant cows and six males were loaded onto shipping containers on trucks in Elk Island National Park, about 35 kilometres east of Edmonton.

The shipping containers wereferried by helicopterto an enclosed pasturein Panther Valley nearSundreon the eastern slopes of the park.

Bison helicoptered in to Banff for historic homecoming after 140 years

8 years ago

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After years of consultations and detailed planning, Parks Canada officially reintroduced 16 bison in Banff National Park in what is being called a historic homecoming and an important conservation effort as part of Canadas 150th anniversary year.

The bison are being monitored by Parks Canada using radio collars.

"We've been giving them lots of space," said Hunt."The staff are watching from quite a distance using spotting scopes and things like that so to make sure we don't bother them."

Free range future

In the summer of 2018 after another calving season they'll be released into a1,200-square-kilometrearea on the eastern slopes of the park.

Parks Canada saysthey will then be able to interact with other native species, forage for food and integrate into the ecosystem.

The new herd could eventually roam free in the national park west of Calgary after the initial five-year pilot is over and results of the project are evaluated. Parks Canada is monitoring how the herd affects water quality andwildlifesuch as songbirds and other ungulates like elk.

Officials hope the herd will grow to roughly 80 bison by the end of the pilot project.

The historic homecoming is part of Canada's 150th anniversary celebrations with a goal of re-establishing Indigenous connections to the bison and park.

If the herd becomes too big, Parks Canada will work with local First Nations to cull the herd, Hunt said.