The plan to reestablish the wood bison population in Alaska had to be halted in the winter of last year when severe conditions led to a significant reduction in the lower Innoko as well as the Yukon Rivers herd.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Wood Biologist Tom Seaton says the latest survey of population shows that the herd decreased from 150-72 animals during the past year. He attributes the decrease to the extreme winter weather which saw heavy snowfall that fell from October to the end of May.
“It was simply a bad mix of factors: hard snow to move through, in order in order to access food sources,” Seaton said. “Snow that lasted a lengthy period of time, and also snow that was very deep.”
Seaton states that the current number of wood bison at 72 is the lowest in state history federal tribal partners who are working to rebuild these animals Alaska transferred 130 animals to Alberta, Canada in 2015. The remaining 28 Canadian animals were added in 2022.
However, Seaton insists that herds have experienced fluctuation in the weather since 2015.
“Had several times of having a slow increase then saw a drop from about 140 to 90 before having the chance to jump again over 100 and then to 90,” he said. “Then there were a few jumps over 100 to get the 150 mark last year and then a drop to 70 or so.”
As of now, the plan is to increase the efforts to restore wood bison populations in Alaska. Seaton says the primary focus is on areas in areas in the Eastern Interior, where snow cover is generally lighter.
“So, Yukon Flats, lower Tanana drainage, and the upper Tanana drainage all contain conditions better suited to the bison’s performance,” the researcher said.
Seaton states the group is working together with local groups in an open-ended plan process to find an additional wood bison rehabilitation site that could allow animals to be transferred in the summer of next year. This Wood Bison Restoration Project is mostly funded by federal funds.
