Call to Action Item

Call to Action Item

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Call to Action Item #26 - Back Home on the Range Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/BRD/NRR—2016/1367 ON THE COVER Bison on Antelope Flats in Grand Teton National Park Photography by: National Park Service Call to Action Item #26 - Back Home on the Range Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/BRD/NRR—2016/1367 Amanda Hardy and Glenn Plumb National Park Service Biological Resources Division 1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 200 Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 December 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and oth- ers in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision- making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the in- tended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from the Biological Resources Division website: (http://www.nature. nps.gov/biology/) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www. nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Hardy, A. and G. Plumb. 2016. Call to action item #26 - back home on the range. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/BRD/NRR—2016/1367. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 999/135640, December 2016 ii Call to Action Item #26 - Back Home on the Range Contents Page Appendices . ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� iv Abstract . .. v Introduction . .. 1 Our Shared Call to Action-Bison Management and Stewardship in the 21st Century . 2 DOI Bison Conservation Initiative . ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4 Tribal Bison Cooperation . 6 State Cooperation . 8 Bison Scholarship and Science . 10 Bison Cultural Resource Stewardship: Going Beyond the Symbol . �������������������������������������12 Engagement, Education, and Outreach . ����������������������������������������������������������������������������13 International Conservation Cooperation: Continental-scale Species Restoration . 15 Other Key Collaborations and Engagements . �������������������������������������������������������������������16 Park Bison Conservation Highlights . ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������18 Badlands National Park . �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������18 Chickasaw National Recreation Area . 18 Glacier National Park . 19 Grand Canyon National Park . 20 Grand Teton National Park . 21 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve . �������������������������������������������������������22 Tallgrass National Prairie Preserve . ����������������������������������������������������������������������������23 Theodore Roosevelt National Park . 23 Wind Cave National Park . ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������24 Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve . ����������������������������������������������������������25 Yellowstone National Park . 26 Looking Forward . �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������28 Literature Cited . .. 30 National Park Service iii Appendices Page Appendix A: Department of Interior Bison Conservation Herds . ����������������������������������������31 Appendix B: Map of Department of Interior Bison Conservation Herds (Credit: Wildlife Conservation Society) . .. 32 Appendix C: Bison Research in National Parks 2011-2016 . .. 33 Appendix D: Bison Science and Scholarship References (2011-2016) Relevant to NPS Bison Stewardship and the Call to Action . .. 34 iv Call to Action Item #26 - Back Home on the Range Appendices Abstract Page In August 2011 the National Park Service report summarizes activities undertaken (NPS) issued “A Call to Action,” to help between 2011-2016 that the NPS and col- guide the NPS and partners into its second laborating partners pursued to improve co- century of preserving and protecting our ordinated management of the species and to natural and cultural heritage. Call to Ac- inspire innovative and unique approaches to tion Item #26 “Back Home on the Range” bring wild bison “back home on the range” commits the NPS to restoring and sustaining to benefit grassland ecosystems, traditional three wild bison populations in collaboration cultures, thriving economies and healthy with partners. Since then, the NPS has been lives – and to share the inspiring conserva- reexamining current bison conservation tion success story of the recovery of bison initiatives and partnerships and is reimaging for the enjoyment, education, and inspira- new ways to integrate science and develop tion of this and future generations. shared stewardship opportunities that will be needed to achieve this Call to Action. This National Park Service v American plains bison. NPS Photo. Introduction With the (by Elaine F. Leslie) ing as wild,” ranging freely across only 1.5% responsibility of their historic distribution and habitat. of managing The iconic American plains bison (Bison bi- 9,700 bison son bison), represented on the National Park The DOI has responsibility for approximate- in 11 herds, Service (NPS) arrowhead and the Depart- ly one-third of all bison managed for conser- the NPS is ment of the Interior (DOI) seal, is a symbol vation in North America with ~12,000 bison a key player of strength, resilience, and hope. Prior to in 19 herds on 4.6 million acres in 14 states in advancing European settlement, bison thrived across (Appendix A, Table 1; Appendix B, Figure bison the largest original distribution of any native 1). Most of these herds have less than 1,000 large herbivore in North America, ranging individuals, raising valid concerns about the conservation from desert grasslands in northern Mexico genetic integrity and overall viability of these efforts... to interior Alaska. Since humans first oc- herds. Most herds are fenced and subjected cupied the continent 12,000 years ago, bison to selective culling (mortality). Many herds have influentially shaped cultures, diets, also show some evidence of cattle gene traditions, and economies, ultimately having introgression from early 19th century cross- a profound influence on human history in breeding with domestic cattle. Despite these North America. With the onset of European constraints, the DOI bison herds are an irre- settlement, bison populations were reduced placeable resource for the long-term recov- from an estimated 60 to 80 million down to a ery of North American plains bison (Dratch mere 1,000 animals. These surviving animals and Gogan 2010, NPS 2014a). were saved from extinction and established several protected founding populations that With the responsibility of managing 9,700 put the species on a path of recovery and bison in 11 herds, the NPS is a key player in conservation. advancing bison conservation efforts from saving the species to cooperatively managing While the recovery of bison is considered bison with the goal of ecological restoration to be a wildlife conservation success story, where wild bison range widely to benefit notably carrying the distinction as the first ecosystems and people. The NPS “Call to conservation success story in North Amer- Action” of 2011, in its vision for the agency’s ica, substantial work remains to restore the second century of service, established an species to its ecological and cultural role on ambitious commitment to bison conserva- appropriate landscapes within its historical tion based on science, aiming to build long- range (Gates et al. 2010, NPS 2014a). Today, term capacity within NPS and through part- most bison (~300,000) are privately owned nership networks, so that bison conservation and raised as livestock for a thriving bison ultimately generates value-added economy, meat industry, while only about 31,000 bison improves human and environmental health, (including both plains and their northern and supports

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