Reconnecting grasslands, bison and people

Plains bison rely on grasslands for grazing. Yet less than 6 percent of Saskatchewan’s original grasslands remain. Land conversion to agriculture in the 1800s throughout the region was an initial cause of loss. More recently, fire suppression has caused aspen forests to grow where mixed fescue grasslands used to be – a change that affects Prince Albert National Park’s population of freeranging plains bison, where a decline has been observed since 2005. Aside from undesirable habitat change, the herd has also weathered natural predation, spikes in disease (anthrax) and harvest pressure outside the park boundaries. Attracted to forage crops on neighbouring lands, bison can cause damage, which leads to conflicts with landowners. Practical solutions are required to benefit the grasslands, bison and people alike.