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BISON MANAGEMENT PLAN RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
2014
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Executive Summary
An ecosystem management plan is defined as an approach used to maintain or restore the
composition, structure, and function of natural and modified ecosystems for long-term sustainability.1 These
plans are based on a collaboratively developed vision of desired future conditions that integrates ecological,
socioeconomic, and institutional perspectives applied within a geographic framework defined by natural
ecological boundaries.1 This ecosystem management plan has been prepared for Riding Mountain National
Park with the long-term vision of continued and adaptive conservation of their captive Manitoba Plains bison
herd. The three central goals outlined within the following report address conservation initiatives of the
Riding Mountain bison herd with respect to an expanded enclosure, improvement of the grassland
ecosystems within the park, and strategically enhancing public attraction to the park using the bison herd.
Parks Canada largely values the opportunity to bring Canadians and visitors together in celebrating
our country’s ecological diversity and cultural heritage. In this regard, public engagement is fundamental to
the development of the Bison Management Plan. In addition, it is critical to bring all other relevant
stakeholders to the table in devising management strategies for the Riding Mountain bison herd in order to
facilitate discussion and development of common goals. Partnership, cooperation, and collaboration from all
parties involved in the management process are essential for the success of the plan and consequentially to
the achievement of effective bison conservation.
It is recognized that in conjunction with socioeconomic perspectives, the integration of science-
based, objective management is critical to the success of any ecosystem management plan. For this reason,
this Bison Management Plan has been produced in a manner that utilizes the available science and literature
to best guide management practices. A holistic, scientific approach to bison conservation creates opportunity
and promotes for the continual usage of testing, researching, and monitoring to adaptively refine
management. As we strive to realize the highest level of conservation achievement – bison conservation herd
with ecological restoration – over the long-term, we have constructed a framework to gradually realize three
fundamental principles of herd management:2
I. Maintain the wild characteristics of bison while avoiding domestication.
II. Conserve the genetic diversity and genetic integrity of bison.
III. Restore and maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Throughout all stages of bison management and plan implementation, we are committed to the
highest level of humane, ethical treatment of all organisms that may be affected by our efforts. We also
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recognize that laying out an ecosystem management plan as defined above requires acceptance of
uncertainty, recognition of the world’s dynamic nature, and the ability to flexibly make decisions without
complete information and under conflicting pressures.1 As such, our management plan seeks improvement,
not perfection, in integrating ecological, social and economic values to promote action and make change.
On behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s
natural and cultural heritage and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that
ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations.
– Parks Canada’s Mandate
Canada’s treasured natural and historic places will be a living legacy, connecting hearts and minds to a
stronger, deeper understanding of the very essence of Canada.
– Parks Canada’s Vision
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary…………………………………………………………….........................................
1.0 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................
1.1 History of Riding Mountain National Park…………………………………………………...
2.0 Geographic Area..................................................................................................................................
2.1 Region….……….....................................................................................................................
2.2 Grasslands and the Current Bison Enclosure………………………………………………...
2.3 Area of Expansion…………………………………………....................................................
3.0 Overriding Goals of the Bison Management Plan...............................................................................
4.0 Stakeholders………............................................................................................................................
4.1 Stakeholder Engagement……………………………………………………………………..
4.2 Primary Stakeholders...............................................................................................................
4.3 Secondary Stakeholders...........................................................................................................
4.4 Managing Stakeholders………………………………………………………………………
5.0 Conservation of Plains Bison with an Expanded Enclosure...............................................................
5.1 Conservation Herd Requirements………………………………………………………........
5.2 Benefits from Enclosure Expansion………………………………………………………….
5.3 Potential Implications of Fencing on other Wildlife……………………….………………...
5.4 Managing Disease……………………………………………................................................
6.0 Improving the Ecological Integrity of Grasslands………………….…………….............................
6.1 Importance of Bison as an Ecosystem Engineer………………….……….............................
6.2 Measuring Success………………………...............................................................................
7.0 Increasing Public Visitation and Interest to the Park via Enclosure Expansion..................................
7.1 Education and Awareness………………………….…………………………………….…..
7.2 Improving Existing Visitor Services……………………………..………..……....................
7.3 Bison Cams…………….………………………………….…………………………………
7.4 Trails……………………..………………………………………………..............................
7.5 Bison Buggy Tours……………........................................................ .....................................
7.6 Measuring Success…………………………………………………………………………...
8.0 Implementation and Phasing...............................................................................................................
9.0 Funding………………………………………………………………………………………………
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10.0 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………...................
11.0 Works Cited………………………………………………………………….....................................
12.0 Figure References…………………………………………………………………............................
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1.0 Introduction
Management plans are the cornerstone of Parks Canada’s commitments to the future. This is the first
management plan for the Riding Mountain National Park bison herd. This management plan provides long-
term strategic direction for the management of the species and habitat for the next 20 years.
Parks Canada is committed to ecological integrity, communicating with and engaging Canadians, and
providing opportunities for visitor experiences in ways that integrate ecological, social, and economic values,
and honors First Nations stewardship.
1.1 History of Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) was established on May 30th, 1930 to protect the diverse
ecosystems in the area: grasslands, wetlands, boreal forest, and deciduous forest.3 It is known as “an island of
wilderness surrounded by a sea of farmland.”3 When parliament established RMNP in 1930 without
consulting the Keeseekoowenini Ojibway First Nation Reserve, which fell within the boundaries of the park,
relationships soured and became contentious.4 In the 1990s the Keeseekoowenini First Nation challenged
their land claim and a settlement was reached in 2004 establishing the Ojibway people as stewards of the
area, and Parks Canada to be bound by this stewardship.4
Plains bison (Bison bison bison) are the largest land mammals in North America. The Canadian
range of the plains bison once extended across the entire prairies and included grasslands, meadows,
scrublands, and certain wooded areas that provided shelter from weather and predators.5 Prior to the arrival
of settlers in the 1880s, more than 10 million Plains bison roamed the Canadian prairies.6 During this period,
bison served as both ecological and cultural keystone species. Bison had a disproportionate influence on
ecological processes and biodiversity in the socioecological systems they occupied. Bison were also a critical
resource to First Nations for material and spiritual culture.5 It is estimated that by 1888 only eight bison
remained in Canada and 85 in North America. The reduction in the number of bison resulted in the loss of
native grasslands.6 Currently, there are approximately 700,000 Plains bison in North America and more than
95% of these bison are being farmed for commercial purposes.5 In Manitoba, bison are found sporadically in
semi-wild or captive herds and the RMNP bison herd was established by obtaining descendants of Elk Island
National Parks Plains Bison conservation herd.7
The strong cultural and spiritual relationship between bison and First Nations still continues today.
This is one motivating factor in our efforts to promote the natural health and long-term viability of Riding
Mountain National Park’s bison herd. We wish to expand the home range in RMNP to foster natural bison
behavior and to return the habitat to its original state. Cooperative management with the Keeseekoowenini
7
Bison by Keith Ewing. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – NonCommercial 2.0
Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kewing/9495713485.
Ojibway First Nation will help us to meet our goals while also preserving/re-establishing the cultural and
spiritual relationship between bison and First Nations in the area. Managing the Plains bison herd at RMNP
will provide opportunities for enhancing and increasing visitor experience and education, and re-establish the
ecological role bison play on the landscape.
The Parks are hereby dedicated to the people of Canada for their benefit, education and enjoyment...and
shall be maintained and made use of so as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of the future
generations.
– National Parks Act, 1930
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2.0 Geographic Area
2.1 Region
Riding Mountain National Park lies within the greater ecosystem of the Riding Mountain region in
the southwestern corner of Manitoba, Canada. Tightly surrounding the core protected area that is the park is
the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve which consists of 15 rural municipalities that capture approximately
12,000 square kilometres of land area.8 The Biosphere Reserve is designated as a region of ecosystems
promoting solutions to balance the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.4 Because Riding
Mountain National Park is a relatively small component of a much greater and complex ecosystem, it
depends on the processes of the surrounding landscape to maintain its ecological integrity.4 The park itself
covers a total area of 2,969 square kilometres and is characterized by a diverse range of habitats including
boreal forest, mixed-grass and fescue prairies, aspen parkland, and deciduous forests.4 A large number of
wildlife species such as white-tailed deer, elk, moose, black bear, wolf, and cougar reside within and
frequently cross the park’s manmade boundaries,.4
The Riding Mountain region, depicted in Figure 1, has been progressively shaped by geological
processes including sedimentation, continental glaciation, and water erosion to create a landscape distinct
from the surrounding area.4 The landscape is influenced by a continental climate characteristic of the
Canadian prairies. Generally, the region experiences warm summers and cold winters, but climatic
conditions can vary within the park.4 Annual rainfall in the park is between 40.6-50.8 cm, and the mean
winter snowfall ranges between 25.4 and 127.0 cm depending on elevation.4 The Riding Mountain Biosphere
Reserve, situated in the Hudson Bay drainage system, is characterized by a variety of soil types that differ in
their drainage and texture: for example, underneath the mixed-grass and rough-fescue prairies lies rich
Chernozemic soil.4
2.2 Grasslands and the Current Bison Enclosure
The RMNP bison enclosure (see Figure 2) located on the eastern edge of Lake Audy encompasses
rough-fescue grassland that occurs as prairie openings within groves of aspen parkland. This rough-fescue
grassland, named for the dominant native species present, is the most intact, diverse prairie within the
boundary of Riding Mountain National Park. According to Cornelsen (2013) about 40 km2 of the park is
currently classified as grassland; however, historical records indicate grasslands were significantly more
common in the Riding Mountain area than they are presently.9 Discrepancies in mapping and continual
change in environmental conditions have made it difficult to categorize the extent of grasslands in the park
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Figure 1: The Riding Mountain region. Adapted from Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding
Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (p. 8),
2007.
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over time. Despite this, it is estimated that there is 87-95% less grassland in RMNP than what may have
existed 75 years ago.9 With this being said the present bison herd of approximately 66 animals makes its
home on an increasingly rare example of real prairie. Within the fence, the area of which this ecosystem
management plan is primarily concerned, the bison have access to the small water body of Hyde Lake and
patches of forested spaces for shelter.
Figure 2: The current bison enclosure and the Lake Audy area. Adapted from Riding Mountain National
Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada
Management Plan (p. 35), 2007.
2.3 Area of Expansion
This bison management plan primarily focuses on an expansion of the current Riding Mountain bison
enclosure into areas of traditional bison habitat. The proposed adjustment of the enclosure involves extension
of the bison range into adjacent grasslands, meadows, and aspen forests including, if possible and/or
applicable, habitat that was historically suitable for bison but has since undergone change over time (e.g.
grasslands that are subject to aspen encroachment). Specifically, initial phases of expansion will be
concentrated in the unmaintained backcountry of Grasshopper Valley, located on the west side of Lake
Audy. As shown in Figure 3, the extent of grasslands in Grasshopper Valley has declined significantly due to
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the encroachment of woody plant species. In extending grassland habitat to achieve our two objectives of a
larger bison enclosure and improved grassland ecosystems, use of prescribed fire and other management
techniques supported by scientific studies will be implemented. We propose that these techniques will
prevent further forest encroachment, increase prairie diversity, and help reinstate “lost” fragments of
grasslands, chiefly in the Grasshopper Valley. Consequently, more habitat would be allocated to the RMNP
bison herd for benefiting their conservation, just as the beneficial effects of the animals may in turn
contribute to the health of the targeted grassland areas.
Figure 3: Grassland loss in Grasshopper Valley by woody plants from 1956 to 1996. Adapted from
Trembling Aspen Invasion of the Plains Rough Fescue Grasslands. Contract Report for Parks Canada, 2007.
Important to the extent of enclosure expansion is consideration of the recommended minimum levels
for herd and range size. Both herd size and total area of rangeland must meet certain requirements for a bison
herd to qualify as a conservation herd. According to guidelines set out for herd managers by the World
Wildlife Fund, the minimum size of a bison enclosure to generate a moderate contribution to the bison’s role
in an ecosystem is 5,000 acres, or approximately 20 km2 of rangeland. This enclosure size reflects the
minimum range size appropriate for replicating the natural movement patterns and benefits of bison on the
landscape.2 In addition, the World Wildlife Fund has proposed a minimum effective population size of 500
breeding individuals. The characteristics and requirements of a conservation herd will be discussed further in
section 6.0 of this report.
In working towards the recommendations set out in the guidelines, the preliminary expansion
outlined in this Bison Management Plan is to encompass a total area of at least four times the present pasture
size of 5.2 square kilometres. The general area of interest for expansion is shown in Figure 4. Finalization of
the exact enclosure size and shape will require consultation with environmental experts in classifying the
useable extent of the Grasshopper Valley and other nearby areas for the purpose of sustaining a bison herd.
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The use of area walkthroughs, GIS technology, and collaboration with conservation professionals and
accredited groups will be carefully implemented to designate where fencing should occur on the land. Using
technology and working with specialists to analyze the environmental features of the area will allow us to
enclose the maximum amount of potential habitat, target encroached/transformed grassland areas, and ensure
conditions for fencing are acceptable. Based on research of the land to be fenced, a decision on the stocking
rate will be made so as not to exceed the range’s carrying capacity; monitoring of the effect of population
size on the habitat will be conducted to ensure this is avoided.
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Figure 4: A) The boundaries of the current RMNP bison enclosure. B) A general idea of the proposed
enclosure expansion. The red boundaries represent a rough estimate of reused fencing from the present
enclosure and the blue boundaries represent a rough estimate of the amount of new fencing required.
Adapted from Google Maps, 2014.
B)
A)
Grasshopper Valley
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3.0 Overriding Goals of the Bison Management Plan
The Bison Management Plan has devised three overriding goals. This management plan will be
evaluated yearly, producing a progress report in which objectives will be reflected upon and appropriate
adjustments will be made. This ecosystem management plan is a phase sensitive plan, in which actions to
produce a viable management framework that allows Plains bison to function sustainably within the
dimensions of the enclosure are implemented and adapted over time. Creating a bison conservation herd,
restoring prairie grasslands, and increasing park visitation while providing an authentic and safe Manitoba
park experience are the desired outcomes of this expansion. The three overriding goals are:
1. Continued conservation of the Manitoba Plains bison population in Riding Mountain National
Park. This management plan is a stepping stone in the larger picture of long-term conservation of a
Plains bison population within Manitoba. It is a preliminary step towards creating a conservation herd in
Riding Mountain National park by facilitating a broader home range that will satisfy conservation herd
requirements.
Key actions:
Evaluation of ecosystem to determine suitable bison habitat
Consistent monitoring of disease levels within the population
Maintain conservation herd requirements through minimal contact management and random
selection culling
Work with First Nations and surrounding municipalities, land owners, and farmers to collaborate
in joint-protection of bison habitat
The use of recycled materials and natural physical barriers in expansion design (i.e. harvested
trees used for fencing and bodies of water) will be utilized in an attempt to reduce cost
2. Improving the ecological integrity of the grasslands in Riding Mountain National Park. Expanding
the bison enclosure will increase the area of grasslands that will endure a natural disturbance regime, thus
enabling the grasslands in the area to flourish. We will measure ecological integrity via the following
indicators: invasive species in grasslands within the enclosure at no higher than 25%, the presence of
wallows, landscape heterogeneity, and the existence of various bird species and small mammals.
Key actions:
A)
B)
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Conducting research of historical data to formulate a picture of a historical landscape
Land assessment to determine the vital boundary cut off in which the grasslands will be exposed
to the Plains bison
Inducing controlled burns to maintain a natural disturbance cycle and foster a variation of
succession stages on the landscape
Reduce the existence of invasive species to 25% of the grasslands
Ongoing comparative studies and monitoring to establish the differences on the grasslands as a
result of the presence of Plains bison
3. Increase park visitation and public interest in Riding Mountain National Park. Increasing public
attraction to the park via the enclosure expansion is a matter of including the public in current planning
of the project, encouraging participation, and invigorating a sense of curiosity to Riding Mountain
National Park’s natural grassland ecosystem. However, with increased visitation to viewing Plains bison
also increases the risk of human/bison conflict. As part of the goal to increase public attraction to RMNP
to view bison, we accept this potential conflict as a central responsibility and top priority in management.
Ultimately, human safety is the most important aspect upon increasing visitation.
Key actions:
Increase public visitation to RMNP by 2.5 % in the first five years of the ecosystem management
plan
Work closely with stakeholders to reduce human/bison conflict and develop effective strategies
to ensure satisfactory visitor experience and engagement
Introduce Bison Days to educate the public on the bison’s ecological role in grasslands as well as
bison safety and visitation etiquette through interactive activities
Install Bison Cams in the enclosure to provide live online feeds of bison activity
Create innovative bison viewing opportunities in addition to the enhancement of existing visitor
services
Conduct ongoing research and surveys on park visitation to work towards creating the best visitor
experience
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4.0 Stakeholders
4.1 Stakeholder Engagement
Effective conservation requires understanding how people relate to one another and how they relate
to the land.1 Parks Canada will work intensively with the provincial and federal government, key
stakeholders, and First Nations to fully understand issues and work to address concerns and common
interests. The purpose of consultation is to maximize the efficiency of the Bison Management Plan.
Consultation will be held to acquire substantive input from stakeholders at the early stages of
decision making. Cooperative Management will be appointed to stakeholders who share mutual goals in
order to ensure this project is carried out in an efficient manner. Part of this will entail addressing
stakeholders concerns and modifying plans identified and constantly following up and monitoring the project
development. Support for the project will be enhanced by having the following mandate, improved
educational opportunities, and enhancing the visitor experience at RMNP, while preserving the integrity of
this keystone species, and restoring the natural habitat of the area.
4.2 Primary Stakeholders
Parks Canada: Parks Canada is the responsible party in park management at RMNP. They are the key leaders
in planning, implementation, and monitoring of this project and the lead responsible to initiate and engage in
stakeholder consultation. Parks Canada will also play a critical role for funding this management plan.
First Nations: The involvement of First Nations (particularly Keeseekoowenin Ojibway) in decision-making
and sharing of traditional knowledge enhances the understanding, protection, and management of bison.
Their knowledge will ensure the development of strategies to improve the visitor experience and education
of this keystone species. This knowledge of bison’s profound role in the ecosystem as a key grazer will be an
asset with determining effective ways of managing ecological restoration.
Province of Manitoba: Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship plays a critical role in monitoring
wildlife disease in the park along with Parks Canada and areas adjacent to the park, particularly the
Biosphere Reserve with the surveillance, prevention, research, and control of bovine tuberculosis. Manitoba
Conservation will play a critical role with the decision making process to ensure proactive measures are
being taken to minimize risk of exposure to the disease and to monitor bison throughout the expansion to
prevent disease transmission.
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Canadian Wildlife Federation: The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) will provide critical knowledge to
ensure that Plains bison populations and their habitats are conserved in a sustainable manner. CWF will also
play a critical role in potential funding for this management plan.
Scientific Community: The involvement of professionals in designated fields such as GIS will help ensure
our area is suitable habitat for the bison species by evaluating biotic and abiotic factors of the area.
4.3 Secondary Stakeholders
Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve: The surrounding communities of Riding Mountain National Park are a
part of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve (RMBR). RMBR has a Zone of Cooperation of 12,000
square kilometers, which includes 15 municipalities and 4 First Nations. These municipalities play a crucial
role in enabling experts and officials to access their knowledge in the area, including how to restore and
maintain a resilient and historical ecosystem and a suitable bison habitat. This ensures long term viability of
the bison enclosure expansion.
The Keeseekoowenin Ojibway, Rolling River, Tootinaowaziibeeng, and Waywayseecappo First
Nations
Travel Manitoba: Travel Manitoba is a provincial marketing organization for the province of Manitoba.
Travel Manitoba and Parks Canada have maintained a successful marketing relationship since 2005 in an
effort to enhance Manitoba tourism by attracting Canadians and visitors to local heritage sites and natural
protected areas, including RMNP. By actively involving Travel Manitoba in our ecosystem management
plan, we can effectively promote the importance of bison as a natural keystone species in prairie grasslands
to the public.
Bovine Tuberculosis Stakeholder Advisory Committee: The Bovine Tuberculosis Advisory Committee
(TbSAC) was set up by Parks Canada in response to stakeholder concerns with Tb in the area of Riding
Mountain National Park. This committee will assist in understanding and acknowledging the safety of our
ecosystem management plan in relation to the disease. The advisory committee will support our decisions to
move forward with the plan in a safe manner, and be there to identify potential risk and concerns that may
arise in addition to suggesting solutions.
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Friends of Riding Mountain National Park: Friends of Riding Mountain National Park is a volunteer-driven
non-profit organization devoted to the education and awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of
RMNP.
Wildlife Habitat Canada: Wildlife Habitat Canada works to conserve, restore and enhance wildlife habitat in
Canada and provides funding for conservation projects. Grants are available to support conservation projects
in Canada.
Explore: Explore is a multimedia organization that has worked with Parks Canada on past projects by
providing the public with live camera feeds of wildlife. Parks Canada is looking into partnership with
Explore in RMNP.
Public: To move forward with the bison enclosure expansion, it is important the public is invested in our
goals. If the public can see the benefit to the bison by improving their well-being, preserving the ecological
integrity of Manitoba prairie, improving educational opportunities, and enhancing the RMNP experience,
then they will be supportive of our expansion.
4.4 Managing Stakeholders
Consultation will be approached with, a primary facilitated round table with representation from key
stakeholders (revise me!). Stakeholders will be encouraged to bring concerns to the forefront and these issues
will be addressed and framed for further deliberation. This strategy will enable the management team to
determine which stakeholders support the project and how to utilize that support in planning. It will also
identify stakeholders against the plan and what can be done to manage that opposing view. Example can the
expansion plan be modified or improved upon there by changing the opposition from negative to neutral or
optimistic (revise me!). The round table workshops will be developed with specific stakeholders to achieve
specific objectives and goals, such as visitor experience and funding. The round table will acknowledge
obstacles, find solutions, instill trust, and build long-term relationships. For example, one potential concern
of the public may include reduced bison sightings and accessibility to the area. To address this concern,
Parks Canada will develop a link on their website accessible by the public with information about local
events such as educational workshops on the history of bison, how the habitat will be restored to its natural
state, the spiritual relationship between First Nations and the bison, the improved RMNP experience, and the
overall benefits of the expansion. Also to manage the public and stakeholders, open houses will be held to
promote and to provide current and relative information. These are some of the strategies to demonstrate
19
Buffalo Play by Julie Falk. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – NonCommercial
2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/piper/7721001224.
openness, transparency, and trust in the expansion project and create public and stakeholder support. There
will be continued consultation throughout all phases of planning and implementation and constant
monitoring to ensure goals are being met. Communication, consultation, and involvement of all stakeholders
and the public will be the key to this management plan.
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5.0 Conservation of Plains Bison with an Expanded Enclosure
5.1 Conservation Herd Requirements
As previously discussed, there are three principles of establishing a conservation herd, each with
specific guidelines to achieve:
I. Maintain the wild characteristics of bison while avoiding domestication. In order to ensure
that the bison remain wild, RMNP has a minimal contact management approach, so the bison do
not become domesticated as a result of management. Bison will also interact with other bison and
their habitat; a mix and of age classes and sexes will be maintained and a general range size will
be maintained.
II. Conserve the genetic diversity and genetic integrity of bison. Genetic diversity and integrity is
important to the long-term success of a bison herd. Recognizing this, RMNP will utilize a
random selection model that ensures the random culling of bison that does not select for any one
specific trait (e.g. colour, size). Breeding competition is observed in the current herd and will be
maintained when the enclosure is expanded. This allows for competition between bulls to mate
with females. The current sex ratio of the herd is approximately 50:50, which most closely
mimics the sex ratio in the wild and allows for appropriate breeding competition.
The suggested effective population size is approximately 500 breeding individuals, which
does not include the calves. This population size is the final, long-term objective; RMNP
recognizes that this herd size cannot be achieved at once therefore a subsequent management
plan will be drafted to further increase the herd size. Until this final size is achieved, RMNP will
manage the smaller herd to act as a “metapopulation” which exchanges breeding bison with other
herds in order to increase genetic variation. However, before the bison can be traded, RMNP
must ensure that there is no risk of disease within the herd.
Cattle-bison hybridization in the past has resulted in genetic introgression; the consequence
of this is that select bison today have cattle genes, which threatens their genetic integrity. Gene
introgression will be managed within the herd to ensure that the genetic integrity is not
compromised.
III. Restore and maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Habitat structural diversity will
be preserved by ensuring the riparian areas in the enclosure are healthy, plant and animal species
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diversity will be maintained, and the bison will be free to create wallows throughout the
landscape. Grazing will be minimally managed to allow for natural grazing and migration
patterns. Grassland birds and plant species are currently monitored in RMNP, though not actively
managed. In accordance with these guidelines, management plans will be put in place after the
effective population size is reached to ensure the entire ecosystem functions as it would
historically. Bison will continue to interact with the ecosystem within the enclosure in a way that
does not exclude other wildlife; the fencing will be chosen with this parameter in mind.
These guidelines were laid out by Lammers et al. in 2013 and will be followed closely to achieve a
conservation herd after expansion. In terms of measuring success, it is expected that with the presence of
humans around the bison and the removal and addition of fences in their surroundings, the animals will be
put under stress. Our objective of effective Plains bison conservation with an expanded enclosure will be
considered successful when the bison are functioning naturally, free of supplement feeding, and exhibiting
natural behaviours, such as wallowing and migration.
5.2 Benefits from Enclosure Expansion
The current bison enclosure has a capacity of approximately 30 – 40 bison, but holds 66 bison.
Overpopulation of any species occurs when a population exceeds the carrying capacity of a given area. This
capacity is difficult to define as it varies temporally with the habitat type and region. Overpopulation can
lead to an increased risk of disease outbreaks, overgrazing, and put social stresses on the bison. In the wild,
overpopulation is often solved by an increase in the population of predators, which preferentially prey on the
old or sick. This process of natural selection addresses the problem of overpopulation by ensuring that only
the fittest contribute to the gene pool. This solution cannot be applied to the bison at RMNP as the natural
predators of Plains bison are wolves, which preferentially hunt elk and white-tailed deer in the park due to
their availability and ease of hunting. Instead, bison will be culled to emulate predation in the wild. The First
Nations will be consulted when culling takes place to discuss appropriate methods, as they are an important
stakeholder.
RMNP recognizes that random culling cannot replace predation on bison therefore culling alone
cannot address the problem of overpopulation. By increasing the area of the enclosure, the risks associated
with overpopulation can be alleviated.
An increase in area, and therefore in bison numbers, will increase the gene pool of the population and
decrease the likelihood of inbreeding.2 This is especially important in disease outbreak prevention. If a
disease outbreak occurs in the current overpopulated enclosure, there is a higher risk that the entire herd will
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be affected and mortality rates may be very high. With a higher genetic diversity, the chance for survival will
increase, and this goes toward meeting the second principle in establishing a conservation herd.
Bison are migratory mammals and roam hundreds of kilometres over their lifetimes.10 They migrate
in search of better forage and choose their habitat based on nutritional needs, availability of forage, and their
ability to avoid predators in a given habitat. The expansion will facilitate this natural behaviour without the
aid of herding.
RMNP would like to limit the supplement feeding, eventually phasing it out entirely when the bison
are self-sufficient. In the spring, the bison will lightly graze an area of the enclosure, which will then be
fenced off to prevent continued grazing. In the winter, the bison will be led to this portion to graze. Bison
metabolism slows down in winter therefore grazing rates drop and their nutritional requirements adjust to
match what is available.11 The eventual removal of supplement feeding will create a natural stress on the
herd during winter as in the wild; this will naturally select for bison who most efficiently utilize the available
resources. The winter grazing grounds will be the only grazing in which RMNP will intervene; the rest of
their grazing will be unmanaged, in accordance with the third principle of conservation herd management.
Bison are social mammals that will live in a herd for most of their life. However, after breeding
season ends every year, bulls tend to separate themselves from the herd.12 Social strains resulting from
overpopulation and crowding are not observed in the current enclosure, though with the increase in bison
individuals required to establish a conservation herd, this is not guaranteed.
5.3 Potential Implications of Fencing on other Wildlife
Much focus of this project has been centered on matters related to the conservation of the RMNP
bison herd with a larger fenced range. However, it is critical to address potential impacts of fencing on other
species. For all future construction, modern bison-proof/wildlife-permeable fences that limit bison movement
while facilitating the ability of other animals to move freely will be selected for this project (see Figure 5).
Specifically, low-level fences with high heights to the bottom wire and wide spaces between wires will be
used to reduce hazards and minimize negative effects on wildlife.
One of the most significant problems of some fence designs is the entanglement of big game. For a
number of species, such fences can also fragment home ranges, reduce/eliminate access to forage, cover, and
water, and separate young animals from their mothers.13 In order to reduce the possibility of the park’s
newborn moose, elk, and deer being separated from their mothers, the bottom wire of the bison fence will be
set at approximately 20 inches above the ground. Spacing of 10 to 12 inches between wires will allow for the
movement of juvenile moose, elk, and deer, while adults of these three species will be likely to jump the
fences given that the top wire is approximately 60 inches high.13 Applying these parameters to existing and
23
new fencing may significantly reduce the division of home ranges, allow access to resources, and facilitate
movement of most species at each stage of their life cycle without increasing the risk of bison escaping. To
better accommodate wildlife and decrease expenses, the fences will be erected using smooth strand wires
instead of barbed wire.13 To further decrease costs and to prevent visitor conflicts that may transpire if people
come in contact with the wire fencing, the additional security of electrified wires will not be employed unless
absolutely necessary. As the current bison herd does not typically challenge the boundaries of their enclosure
and are quite content in their range, electric wires should not be needed unless behaviour changes over
time.12
The potential ecological impact of fencing on wildlife will be researched and monitored to resolve
any negative effects that may arise. One method that can be used to gauge the impact of bison-proof fencing
on other wildlife is remote camera traps. This technology allows the capture of photographs and video
recordings to monitor wildlife passage under or over the fencing so as to ensure the movement of animals is
not hindered.14 In addition to the movement of elk, white-tailed deer, and moose, the movement of black
bears, wolves, and other animals will also be regularly monitored. Where wildlife movement is observed to
be impeded by the fencing, crossing structures built into the fence may be a possible solution.14
Figure 5: Example of a wildlife-permeable fence design for effectively containing bison. Adapted from
Gates, C. Cormack. Fencing Guidelines for Bison on Alberta Public Lands with Wildlife and Access in Mind
(p. 4), 2006.
5.4 Managing Disease
For several years Riding Mountain National Park has recognized the top issue with managing Plains
bison is the threat of diseases in and around the park. It is also the greatest single limiting factor of the bison
24
enclosure’s range potential. The disease of principle concern to the bison in RMNP is bovine tuberculosis.
Bovine Tb is a contagious and communicable disease which is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium bovis).
This disease affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats, and other species, including humans.
Wildlife does not observe the artificial boundaries of RMNP, therefore areas surrounding the park are
subjected to the transmission of diseases. Bovine tuberculosis is transmitted via ingestion from contaminated
food and water or from inhalation of contaminated air-borne dust particles.15 Elk and cattle for example can
contract the disease when infected body-excreted wastes such as, urine, manure, or salvia is transferred from
one animal to another directly or indirectly, which can then be transmitted to bison.16 It was found that the
major source of transmission was flocculating at hay bales left out for extended periods of time. These round
hay bales then can become contaminated when an animal infected with bovine Tb is feeding there. Wildlife
such as elk and deer later feed on the infected hay, enhancing secondary disease transmission to then occur.16
Additional forms of the risk of disease spread include supplemental feeding and illegal deer and elk baiting
sites.16 Bovine Tb results in reduced fertility, weakness, and/or death in an animal.15
A multi-agency task group was established in 2000 to coordinate a program to eliminate bovine Tb.
The program for managing wildlife diseases was named the Bovine Tuberculosis Stakeholder Advisory
Committee (TbSAC). The program involved monitoring zones on the west side of the province and also just
outside RMNP. Through their great joint efforts throughout the years, in 2007 bovine Tb in cattle was
declared eradicated throughout Canada.17 In 2008 there were approximately six positive bovine Tb cases in
RMNP, but with better understanding and implementing strategies through the years the management is
being controlled.18 Bovine Tb is currently prevalent although the risk posed for bison from the disease is
moderately low.
Although the prevalence of bovine Tb is low in various ungulates, the expanded enclosure ecosystem
management plan has prepared plans for the minimal potential of bovine Tb spread on the bison herd. These
plans include:
Maintaining a bovine Tb-free status in domestic cattle around the park
Routine tests conducted on live bison to ensure healthy animals without the symptoms of disease
present
Properly testing deceased bison for disease and health risks before meat and other parts of bison are
distributed
Minimizing wildlife and livestock relations in order to reduce transmission of disease on agricultural
land
25
o Minimize access of deer and elk to stored forage by taking bales out of the field near the end
of summer
o Continued barrier fences around hay storage sites
Consult with the Task Group (TbSAC) and other stakeholders for inputs and suggestions from past
national parks strategies to manage disease
Organized plans set out with the federal and provincial governments who have the expertise,
specialized skills, and equipment to contain and control the disease18
RMNP will continue to have meetings and work with neighbouring farmers, hunters, and
organizations to continue management of the spread of disease around the park. It is therefore imperative that
the health status of the bison is free of disease and maintained to reach an approved conservation herd.
Testing to date has not revealed any signs of bovine Tb presence within the bison herd. Therefore to
measure success of the increased enclosure, for the first five years, there will be a percentage of the herd
blood tested every six months to ensure no positive signs of bovine Tb. If bison remain free from disease for
the complete five year duration, then the following five years testing will continue but on a lower scale. Once
a year, bison will now be tested for any signs of disease. Further maintenance of the strict testing process
until ten years of disease-free bison are proven and recorded, the increased enclosure has reached success.
American Bison (Bison bison) by Dan Dzurisin. Licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ndomer73/2946319058.
26
6.0 Improving the Ecological Integrity of Grasslands
6.1 Importance of Bison as an Ecosystem Engineer
Maintenance of the bison enclosure and the habitats within is important to restoring the original
biodiversity that was lost in the past. RMNP's increased bison enclosure will utilize this keystone species to
bring back as much of the original Great Plains that existed historically.
The landscape of the area surrounding the current bison enclosure consists of both native and non-
native grasses, forbs, and native and non-native trees. An invasive species is known as a non-native, or alien
species, of plant or animal to an ecosystem capable of causing impairment (revise?). An invasive species
differs from a non-native species in that their characteristics are not from the area but cause harm being
present, while non-natives do not cause disruption. An invasive species’ introduction and presence are likely
to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.19 Having invasive species proves to be a
burden because with few competitors they compete so successfully that they can displace the native species,
causing disruption to the whole ecosystem.
After expansion, the bison will aid in the removal of the invasive grasses, and limit their return.
Brome and Kentucky blue grass are two invasive grass species that RMNP manages with the use of
pesticides; through grazing, bison can help prevent the spread of these invasive species and reduce the need
for pesticide use. This satisfies the third principle of establishing a conservation herd.
While bison can aid in the reduction of aspen stands, RMNP would like to use fire as this was a
common form of disturbance and will help establish stands with differential succession stages throughout the
grassland. The use of fire is an essential tool and process because it benefits grasslands in the RMNP
ecosystem. Prescribed fires can play a big role in preserving biodiversity and keeping various trees and
shrubs from overtaking grassed regions.20 They enhance native plant seed production and also help to shift
the arrangement of plants from non-native to a native community.21 These fires also help in many other ways
such as: assistance with certain plants by germinating seeds, clearing ground cover to allow other, rare plants
an opportunity, and by nourishing the soil with newly burnt vegetation.20 This has been a very important
form of disturbance historically used and RMNP would like to continue with the use of prescribed fires.
After RMNP establishes a fire disturbance regime, the bison will aid in the prevention of encroaching aspen
stands inside the enclosure.
Bison grazing creates and maintains a distinct patchwork of meadows, grasslands, and open habitat
across the landscape on which many other species rely.22 Forbs, which bison graze less, account for higher
biodiversity than grasses and sedges. By grazing other grasses and graminoids, bison allow forbs to grow and
influence biodiversity.22 Their grazing increases both species richness and evenness in plant species
27
diversity.23 The habitat patches that result from bison grazing increases the diversity of colonization for
several species that are otherwise excluded from the community by competitive dominance.23
Common behaviour of the Plains bison includes rolling and wallowing. This creates a depression in
the soil called a wallow and was historically common around the plains.24 The soil is compacted and collects
water in the spring, which is utilized as temporary ponds and houses other animals, such as ducks and frogs.
At large spatial scales, grazed prairie that contains bison wallows has higher plant species diversity than
grazed prairie without wallows.22
Bison grazing the prairies provide a whole web of life to other animals. Many of Canada’s native
wildlife species such as black-footed ferrets, prairie dogs, and burrowing owls all used to be dependent on
massive herds of grazing bison to shape grasslands and the landscape for the creation of their ideal habitats.20
Through this patchwork, not many small mammal species occur at the same sites within the grasslands
height. A study conducted on small mammals in grassland ecosystems showed herbivorous small mammals
usually dominate the tallgrass prairies while, omnivorous small mammals control the northern shortgrass.25
Although the reintroduction of bison in various parks and on grasslands has been gradual, the benefit of their
presence is apparent in the increased populations of grassland birds and small mammals in the grazed and
ungrazed areas.
Moran (2014) concluded the results of a study conducted on grasslands showing that arthropod
abundance and diversity were very high in areas bison were grazing. These large mammals consume a lot of
food but it is the nitrogen contained in their manure that plays an important role in adding lots of high quality
nutrients to the grass, thus bringing in a variety of wildlife. Insects feed off the bison’s dung, thus increasing
their populations becoming food for birds and other small animals. The grazing showed there were around
three times more arthropods from the grazed plots versus the controlled plots.26 Additionally, an increase in
the bison population will result in an increase in scavengers such as bald eagles, ravens, and coyotes.27
6.2 Measuring Success
It has been found that when grasslands in RMNP consist of more than 30% invasive species cover,
there is a clear decline in the quality of the stand.12 RMNP aims to reduce this to 25% within the enclosure
through bison grazing. Every summer, university students will be invited to conduct surveys to monitor the
progress. When studies show that invasive species have been reduced to 25% for five years consecutively,
subsequent surveys will be done every three years, instead of every year. Non-native grasses will be
tolerated, as they are not outcompeting natives and is still viable feed for bison.
28
7.0 Increasing Public Visitation and Interest to the Park via
Enclosure Expansion
Ensuring a positive visitor experience is vital in attracting the public to Riding Mountain National
Park. The goal is to maintain and re-establish a connection between people and bison, while maximizing the
social, economic, and cultural benefits with the recovery of Plains bison in Manitoba. The management plan
intends to provide Manitobans, Canadians, and visitors from other countries a unique experience with the
bison in a natural habitat. Providing quality learning opportunities will raise awareness, promote
understanding, and connect the public emotionally, producing a sense of ownership to RMNP. Bison Days,
Bison Buggy, Bison Cam’s, drive thru, and other recreational opportunities will create a unique, fun, and
educational experience. The goal for ensuring these projects are successful is to build an interpretive center
as a home base to facilitate activities. Once built, staff and/or volunteers will be required to ensure activities
are running in a smooth and efficient manner.
Parks Canada is aware of the safety ramifications of the public interacting with the bison and will
manage this accordingly. Parks Canada will establish speed limits and restrictions for vehicles within the
enclosure as required. An information board* will be posted in a unique bison shape with bright colours to
draw attention to information at both entrances of the enclosure on the south and east side of Lake Audy
Road. Also, information will be located in the new interpretive center. The information will include safety
precautions and hazard warnings. Through educational programs, staff training, and supervised activities,
hazards will be avoided.
*National Parks Sign Regulations will be taken into consideration while designing and posting.
7.1 Education and Awareness
Riding Mountain National Park will host Bison Days for the public, a day once a month that will be
dedicated to the interactive education of bison and grassland habitat. Bison Days will be held within the park
at the Friends Learning Center under the coordination of Friends of Riding Mountain Park, a non-profit
organization devoted to the education and awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of the park.28 Bison
days will be held in an urban setting at the Children’s Museum at the Forks National Historic Site in
Winnipeg in collaboration with Travel Manitoba. Bison Days will also be held at the new interpretive center
when construction is completed. Bison Days will target youth with educational talks, workshops, and games.
Children will be educated on the ecological role of bison in Manitoba, bison safety, and the bison enclosure
at RMNP. Volunteers will be recruited to plan and facilitate the coordination of these events in addition to
29
existing Parks Canada staff and the Forks staff. Bison Days will be incorporated into the existing Kids
Program for Riding Mountain National Park.29 Banff National Park uses a volunteer program in a similar
way that fills roles such as Park Stewards that are involved in projects in education and enhancing visitor
experience.30
7.2 Improving Existing Visitor Services
Riding Mountain National Park currently offers vehicle access through the bison enclosure on four
roads extending a total of approximately 14.5 km. The plan is to improve this drive thru experience by
providing visitors an app called “Tour RMNP.” The “Tour RMNP” app will be developed by Riding
Mountain National Park and will provide a personal tour guide for exploring walking trails and driving
routes. This app will be available for download with an Apple or Android product from iTunes. A small fee
will be associated to ensure adequate funding is being brought into the enclosure to fund programs in the
park. The interpretive Bison Tour option will be an approximately 5 minute long drive from the comfort of
your own vehicle and will consist of:
Information about the history of the expiration and reintroduction of bison to the prairies (2 minutes)
The importance of reintroduction of this native species for ecosystem functioning (2 minutes)
Other bison activities and events in the park (1 minute)
*Viewing cannot be guaranteed due to bison roaming feely among the enclosure. To ensure viewing
of bison, Bison Buggy guided tours will be offered in the winter.
7.3 Bison Cams
Parks Canada will be approaching Explore to assemble cameras within the enclosure to bring the
public live real time video feeds of the bison. The hope is to draw public interest in bison and the enclosure.
Cameras could be ran using solar power and have fences placed around them to protect them from damage.31
Viewers can go to the explore.org website on their computers or smartphones and view the video feed from
the comfort of their own homes 24/7. Cameras will be strategically placed in locations bison frequently
graze, for example near water sources. Parks Canada will determine camera locations by monitoring bison
movements. Park personnel may also create prescribed burns to attract bison to graze in an area as was done
in Grasslands National Park.
Success has been seen with this in Grasslands National Park using techniques such as prescribed
burns to attract bison to graze near cameras, and placing cameras strategically near water sources.
30
7.4 Trails
The bison enclosure will be expanding and therefore encompassing new areas of land within RMNP.
In regards to recreation, the park will replace, modify, and relocate any trails that have been removed by the
expansion. In the preliminary design, two existing hiking trails near Grasshopper Valley and Lake Audy will
be obstructed. The distance of the trails that pass through the proposed expansion is approximately 15 km.
This distance will be substituted in another area that will be utilized by visitors.
Based upon stakeholder consultation as well as funding opportunities, the following trail replacement
ideas will be considered:
Walking Nature Bridge Corridors: These are bridges that allow humans as well as other wildlife to
flow through, but would not be accessible to bison from the enclosure.
Walking trails: Narrow gravel trails could be placed along the border of the bison enclosure as
opposed to going through it, replacing the old trails but still providing a chance to view bison. These
walking trails would be self-guided and facilitate a rustic and truly nature-intimate experience. Along
these trails, several bison viewing lookouts could be built to provide optimal viewing opportunities
for hikers.
Aerial trolley: An aerial trolley would extend the distance of the old trail above ground, and would
allow visitors a chance to view the enclosure from the sky, providing a safe and up-close view of the
bison and their home range. These aerial trolleys would be operated by park staff and would require
pre-arranged bookings.
7.5 Bison Buggy Tours
Frontiers North Adventures provides unique opportunities to visitors of Churchill to enter the
Wapusk National Park in Manitoba with guided tours on the Tundra Buggy. This gives visitors the
opportunity to see polar bears and to become educated on wildlife and the environment.32 There are roughly
20,000 visitors to Churchill annually, and of that approximately two thirds take part in a polar bear viewing
tour.33 We at RMNP view this as an innovative tool that enhances visitors experience in Churchill during
winter months and intend to bring the same experience to RNMP. Bison Buggy Tours will provide a unique
off-roading opportunity for visitors to view bison in their natural habitat. Location of bison will be
determined via satellite imagery at the start of each work day from the interpretive center. A small school bus
will be converted to our Bison Buggy with customized exterior decals and snow tracks added to the wheel
bearings to provide optimum traction and improve steering on snow and ice. Tours will be weather and
registration pending, therefore it will be advertised and encouraged on Parks Canada’s website for people to
31
call ahead to ensure operation and schedule a tour. Tours will not be held from April-October or during
temperatures greater than -1 ⁰C or less than -35 ⁰C. This will prevent damage of fragile grassland ecosystems
and ensure functioning of the Buggy with adequate amounts of snow for operation. Tours will be 25-30
minutes which allows time to drive to the bison, take pictures, and return. The drive there and back will
allow for an interpretive tour providing information on the history of the expiration and reintroduction of
bison to the prairies, the importance of reintroduction of this native species for ecosystem functioning, and
will allow for questions. Tours will also provide opportunity for other wildlife viewing such as elk. The
Bison Buggy will seat approximately 15 passengers. Tours will have a fee associated in order to ensure
adequate funding is being brought into the enclosure. Park attendants will be in charge of operating this
project.
7.6 Measuring Success
Visitation to RMNP has stabilized at approximately 250,000 visitors annually.8 Our goal is to see a
2.5% increase (~6,250) in annual visitation to RMNP within the first five years of implementing this bison
management plan. After the initial year of implementing Bison Cams and the Tour RMNP app, our goal is to
see a 10% increase in the use of Bison Cams and a 2% increase in app downloads the following year. We
will evaluate all data and information from partners and visitors to see if goals have been achieved, and if
required we will modify, adapt, or change activities in RMNP to ensure our goals will be met. Also, based on
the data and information, new goals may be set for future years. Once the above preliminary goals have been
met, this will allow Parks Canada to consider moving forward to the next phase, construction of the
interpretive center. After implementing Bison Days at the new interpretive center, our goal is to see an
additional 1% increase to the new annual visitation. This will allow Parks Canada to evaluate if they can
move onto the third phase, supervised Bison Buggy Tours.
32
8.0 Implementation and Phasing
This management plan will be implemented using a phased approach:
Phase I:
RMNP will consult with stakeholders to address any concerns. Feedback will be considered to begin
addressing trail replacement options. With a minimum target of 20 km2 in mind, the landscape will be
assessed with the help of GIS specialists and other accredited professionals, and the proposed enclosure will
be confirmed before implementation. The exact shape, size, and features of the expanded bison range will
determine the amount and type of fencing materials required and the associated cost of construction. To
decrease cost and lower the required amount of new materials, RMNP will reuse as much of the present
fencing as possible. Once the area has been approved for expansion, prescribed burns will be utilized to clear
the vegetation to prepare the area for enlargement.
Education and awareness initiatives will be executed along with visitor experience enhancement
tools. Preliminary planning and drafting design regarding the interpretive center will occur in this phase.
Bison cams and the RMNP Tour App will be made available. Beginning the monitoring of visitor experience
is an important component of this phase.
Phase II:
Upon designating the exact measurement of area to be fenced, the appropriate stock rate of bison for
the area will be calculated based on the size of the enclosure and the carrying capacity of the grassland.
Fencing will be installed and completed to allow for the expansion of the enclosure. RMNP will begin
monitoring the health of the herd and grasslands, and track any changes within the enclosure; monitoring of
visitor experience will continue. Stakeholders will play an active role in moving forward with the plan.
Building upon the success of Phase I, visitor experience will continue to be enhanced through
construction of the interpretive center. Educational activities will begin at the new interpretive center.
Viewing infrastructure (i.e. trails, trolly, bridge, etc.) will be determined at this time followed by the
preliminary planning and drafting design. A review will be drafted to report the evolvement of the plan.
Phase III:
Monitoring will continue to track the state of the bison, grasslands, and visitor experience. This
includes the assessment of progress establishing a conservation herd, maintaining integrity of grasslands, and
increasing visitor experience. Results will be reported in the annual review and made accessible to the public.
33
Bison Buggy Tours will be put into effect. In addition, the construction of the chosen viewing infrastructure
will begin.
In targeting the recommendations set out in the guidelines for herd managers by the World Wildlife
Fund, the expansion outlined in this bison management plan is to encompass a total area of at least four times
the present pasture area of 5.2 square kilometres. In the long-term however, our future goal, as directed by
the guidelines, is for the bison enclosure to cover a larger area capable of sustaining a herd of approximately
500 breeding individuals. Further management plans will be drafted and implemented to achieve this
subsequent goal once all phases of this bison management plan have been successfully executed.
.
American Bison by dbarronoss. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution –
NonCommercial – NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dbarronoss/505686606.
34
9.0 Funding
The actions outlined in this management plan are achievable provided Parks Canada, other
Government agencies, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Explore, and stakeholders
provide funding and resources (see Table 1). Parks Canada in their 2015-2016 Budget Financial Resources
had the following budgeted amounts: $138,343,892 for visitor experience and $97,390,214 for heritage
places conservation.34
Table 1: Phased funding.
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Managing of Bison
Fencing To be determined in management plans
Visitors
Interpretive Center $1,000,000
Drive Thru ~ $1,00035 $99.00 (annually) $99.00 (annually)
Bison Days No major costs
Bison Buggy $70,00036
Trails Pending on method of trail replacement
Cameras Partnership with Explore
35
10.0 Conclusion
Canada’s national parks such as Riding Mountain National Park bring opportunities where
inspiration, learning, and recreation can connect to represent this wonderful country. This is the first
management plan for the Riding Mountain National Park bison herd. The plan was developed in consultation
with the public, stakeholders and park staff, and has created a clear identity and direction for RMNP’s
increased enclosure. The three overriding goals of the plan are to: continue conservation of the Manitoba
Plains bison population, improve the ecological integrity of the grasslands, and to increase visitation and
public interest in RMNP. These values/goals are the foundation of the new RMNP management plan. The
strategies are focused, the objectives measurable, and the actions achievable.
Implementing this plan follows and supports Parks Canada’s objectives/vision of improving and
striving for ecological integrity. Managing the Plains bison herd at RMNP will provide opportunities for
enhancing and increasing visitor experience and education, and re-establish the ecological role bison play on
the landscape. This management plan provides long-term strategic direction for Parks Canada and managers
at RMNP, supplying a preliminary framework. Progress on the management plan will be reviewed annually,
further being subjected to periodic review every five years, consulting any changing circumstances.
In the Lamar Valley – Bison by Harvey Barrison. Licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution – ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbarrison/8491286056.
36
11.0 Works Cited
1. Meffe G.K., Nielsen L.A., Knight R.L., and Schenborn D.A. 2002. Ecosystem Management: Adaptive,
Community-Based Conservation. Island Press.
2. Lammers D., Ogorzalek K., Olson T., Flocchini J., Forrest S., Anderson B., Grajal A., Jorgensen D.,
Kremer C., LeFaive T., Majerus J., Montanye D., O’Brien D., Sarver S., and Stone J. 2013. Bison
Conservation Management: Guidelines for Herd Managers. World Wildlife Fund.
3. Parks Canada. (29 Jan. 2013). Riding Mountain National Park Historic and Cultural Heritage. Retrieved
from Government of Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/mb/riding/natcul/natcul2.aspx.
4. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. 2004. Riding Mountain Ecosystem Community Atlas. Retrieved
from CPAWS website: http://cpaws.org/uploads/pubs/atlas-ridingmtn.pdf.
5. Species at Risk Public Registry. (17 Nov. 2014). Species Profile – Plains Bison. Retrieved from
Government of Canada website: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/
speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=805.
6. Bison - Canadian Conservation Success. Retrieved from Canadian Bison Website:
http://www.canadianbison.ca/consumer/Nature/conservation_success.htm.
7. Overby J. 2014. History of Bison. Retrieved from Manitoba Bison Association website:
http://www.manitobabison.ca/about-the-bison/history-of-bison/.
8. Parks Canada. 2007. Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate
Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan.
9. Cornelsen S. 2013. Riding Mountain National Park – Monitoring: Grassland Indicator – Grassland
Extent Measure.
10. Macullo M. (29 July 2014). Plains Bison Reintroduction in Banff National Park. Parks Canada.
Retrieved from: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/plan/gestion-management/bison.aspx.
11. Arychuk C.E. (n.d.) Design a Winter Grazing Pasture for Bison. Bison Producers of Alberta. Retrieved
from: http://bisoncentre.com/index.php/producers-2/resource-library/advanced-bison-
information/pasture-management-/design-a-winter-grazing-pasture-for-bison.
12. Tarleton P. Personal communication. Riding Mountain National Park. Parks Canada. 13 Nov. 2013.
13. Gates C.C. 2006. Fencing Guidelines for Bison on Alberta Public Lands with Wildlife and Access in
Mind. Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 8 p.
14. 2014. Bison Restoration. American Prairie Reserve. Retrieved from: http://www.americanprairie.org/
projectprogress/bison-restoration/.
37
15. Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve. (Dec. 2011). TbSAC Information. Retrieved from Riding Mountain
Biosphere Reserve website: http://rmbr.ca/tbsac/tbsac-information/.
16. Stewards B. (2013). Sturgeon River Plains Bison Management Plan.
17. Manitoba Conservation. (n.d.). Bovine Tuberculosis in Elk. Retrieved from Manitoba Conservation
website: http://www.manitoba.ca/conservation/wildlife/disease/bovine.html.
18. Parks Canada. (15 Apr. 2009). Achieving Bovine Tuberculosis-free Status in Domestic Cattle and Park
Wildlife. Retrieved from: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/v-g/ie-ei/at-ag/agir-action/sec8/page4.aspx.
19. Natural Resources Conservation Service Connecticut. (n.d.). Native, Invasive, and Other Plant-Related
Definitions. Retrieved from USDA website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ct/
technical/ecoscience/invasive/?cid=nrcs142p2_011124.
20. Biomes of the World. (2003). Retrieved from The Wild Classroom & Explore Biodiversity website:
http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/grasslands.html.
21. Parks Canada. (10 Apr. 2013). Grasslands National Park. Retrieved from Parks Canada website:
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/sk/grasslands/natcul/natcul8.aspx.
22. Knapp A., Blair J., Briggs J., Collins S., Hartnett D., Johnson L, and Towne E. 1999. The Keystone Role
of Bison in North American Tallgrass Prairie. BioScience 49(1): 39 – 50.
23. Hartnett D., Hickman K., and Fischer L. 1996. Effects of Bison Grazing, Fire, and Topography on
Floristic Diversity in Tallgrass Prairie. Journal of Range Management 49(5): 413 – 420.
24. n.a. (n.d.) Basic Facts about Bison. Defenders of Wildlife. Retrieved from: http://www.defenders.org/
bison/basic-facts.
25. French N., Grant W., Grodzinski W., and Swift D. 1976. Small Mammal Energetics in Grassland
Ecosystems. (pp. 201-220). Ecological Society of America.
26. Entomology Today. (30 Sept. 2014). Bison Grazing Increases Arthropod Diversity and Abundance in
Tallgrass Prairie. Retrieved from Entomology Today website: http://entomologytoday.org/2014/09/
30/bison-grazing-increases-arthropod-diversity-and-abundance-in-tallgrass-prairie.
27. Pullen S., and Ballard K. (Apr. 2004). The Grassland Biome. Retrieved from University of California
Museum of Paleontology website: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/
grassland.html.
28. About Us. Retrieved from Friends of Riding Mountain website:
http://www.friendsofridingmountain.ca/about-us/.
29. Parks Canada. (2014) Riding Mountain National Park Special Activities. Retrieved from Government of
Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/mb/riding/activ/dactivites_2014_events.aspx.
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30. Parks Canada. (14 Oct. 2014). Banff National Park Volunteer Program. Retrieved from Government of
Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/edu/benevole-volunteer.aspx.
31. Parks Canada. (10 June 2013). Grasslands National Park of Canada - Visitor Information - Bison Update
Spring 2013. Retrieved from Government of Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-
np/sk/grasslands/visit/visit7.aspx.
32. View Polar Bears in the Wild. Retrieved from Frontiers North Website: http://www.frontiersnorth.com/
the-tundra-buggy-adventure.
33. Parks Canada. (Oct 2007). Wapusk National Park of Canada Management Plan. Retrieved from
Government of Canada website.
34. Parks Canada. (2014). Parks Canada Agency 2014-2015 Report on Plans and Priorities. Retrieved from
Government of Canada website
35. Thomas C. (6 Mar. 2011). How Much does it Cost to Develop an App? Retrieved from Blue Cloud
Solutions website: http://www.bluecloudsolutions.com/blog/cost-develop-app/.
36. Pricing and Ordering. 2014. Retrieved from Truck and Go website: http://trucktracks.com/en/pre-order/.
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12.0 Figure References
1. Parks Canada. 2007. Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate
Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (p. 8).
2. Parks Canada. 2007. Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate
Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (p. 35).
3. Lastra R. and Kenkel N. 2005. Contract Report for Parks Canada. Quantitative Plant Ecology
Laboratory, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Quantitative Plant Ecology Laboratory,
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
4. Google Maps, 2014.
5. Gates, C. Cormack. 2006. Fencing Guidelines for Bison on Alberta Public Lands with Wildlife and
Access in Mind (p. 4).
Cover photo: Bison 9-13-14 by Larry Smith. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
(CC BY 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lsmith2010/15240560542.
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Handsome Bison by Rich Keen. Licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution –2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/6969930784.
