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Wood Bison HistorySURVIVAL - LUCK OF THE WOOD BISONWood Bison are the largest native land animals in North America. In 1940 pure Wood Bison were thought to be extinct. Through a piece of unbelievable luck the survival of the Wood Bison has virtually been assured. In 1957 a herd of about 200 Wood Bison was discovered by Federal Wildlife officers in the remote north west part of Wood Buffalo National Park. In 1965, 23 animals were shipped to Elk Island National Park where they have been isolated. Conservation officers wanted extra insurance that the Wood Bison survive. Establishing a herd at Elk Island provided that insurance. Elk Island's Wood Bison are used for re-stocking new herds in areas of their former range. Privately owned Wood Bison number approximately 300 breeding females. Today the Wood Bison have been downgraded from "endangered" to a "threatened" species in Canada. The United States of America Fish and Wildlife Service still consider the Wood Bison to be "endangered" and therefore no imports are allowed except by special permit.
NATURE OF WOOD BISONWood Bison are well adapted to our extreme weather conditions in Northern Canada. Wood Bison are extremely hardy animals and graze on a variety of tame pastures, wild pastures and some marshlands. They can graze through heavy snow cover and they also substitute snow for water. They require less labor and maintenance than other traditional livestock. Because the Wood Bison metabolism slows in the winter months, they require less feed to maintain their condition. Wood Bison are herd animals and do not like to be separated from the herd. They are extremely intelligent and curious and respond well to treats of oats and alfalfa pellets. They have strong natural instincts of self-preservation and reproduction of their species.
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