Credit to Parks Canada for the footage shown in this video. If you want to learn more about the Banff Bison Reintroduction Project, check out the playlist they have put together here: th-cam.com/play/PLOe6XX2wBaiZ0fwPsEcTDIECXkchMf2bF.html
Amazing news. The biggest shock to me is how it went from 16 in 2018 to nearly 100 in 2024. This shows how suitable the park is for them and if they’re introduced to other parks like this, I can see an easy and quick recovery for the species.
We live east of Elk Island Park and we take our bison for granted. We are extremely proud of Parks Canada for looking after this incredible creature and for introducing them to Banff Natural Park. Bravo!
Bison were reintroduced in Saskatchewan just a few years ago at Wanuskewin, near Saskatoon. We had the privilege of going to see them just after they were brought in. Nothing does justice to the size of them when you see them in person. They were at the far end of the pen and still huge...
I just assumed that there already were bison in Banff National Park. So, I looked it up, and I was thinking about Wood Bison in Wood Buffalo National Park, and that is a different subspecies altogether. It is great that Plains Bison are returning to another park in Canada. it is to be hoped that they will do well.
It will be exciting to see how the bison and the ecosystem do in a few more years after they have had a chance to settle in. Thanks for flagging Wood Buffalo National Park, that’s actually an interesting situation with the bison there as well as many have bovine tuberculosis. So further north in the Northwest Territories they actually have to have a ‘no bison’ zone so prevent spreading any infection between the Wood Buffalo bison and the wild bison in the NWT. Thanks for watching!
@@DavidBysouth Is there any manner of treating or vaccinating the Wood Buffalo for bovine tuberculosis? Or would the only way be to separate out the healthy from the unhealthy and have a cull? The latter seems like a herculean task that would be well-nigh impossible. I know that in the case of the Tasmanian Devil, captive populations have been established that are clean and not infected with the contagious cancer. However, there is no way, as of now, to deal with the problem in the wild.
I’m by no means an expert on the tuberculosis situation, but from what I understand, there is currently a management plan in place to reduce the risk of spread of the disease to unaffected bison. But I think they are actively trying to find a more long term solution for treatment and remediation of the disease while that’s happening. Thanks for sharing the Tasmanian devil example for comparison!
Thanks! I knew about the other herd but your info eased my mind. When I lived in northern Ontario one of the mines imported a small herd of bison and kept them within the influence of air from the smelter. They thrived! I guess they’re more sensitive to gas emotions than we are … 🇨🇦🖖🏻🇨🇦
I think the wood bison in Wood Buffalo NP may be the only real population, of any bison, in Canada, besides any farmed or captive herds. Granted, all bison are unfortunately "managed" or owned by someone or some entity, ever since the mass bison slaughter of the 18th-19th centuries. A lot of it was purely for fun. For sport. For target practice from moving trains, even. A lot of it was because the herds were considered "in the way" of manifest destiny... and settling the Midwest and Western US. Ever since their numbers plummeted so drastically, there really aren’t wild herds, other than Yellowstone and, now, Banff. 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
Great move! There are now 2,200 plains buffalo and 11,000 wood bison in western Canada! Way to go restoring the bison in Canada’s first national park! Theres a herd or two of bison in Ontario as well. One of the mines procured a herd of bison to prove to the public that the air/environment of the mine was safe for humans. Last I heard, they’re still thriving! And there’s a farmer up there who raises buffalo as well. 🇨🇦🖖🏻🇨🇦
@@KurtisLowe-o5j It would be cool but as far as you know democracy is all about % of people who vote. If you have many stupid people a lot of your tax money will be lost thanks to stupid votes.
I love how everything in nature is connected. Every living organism fills a role, where not one is more important than another. From the bison to the grasslands that feed them, to the insects, rodents and the birds who live within, to the wolves and the rivers they shape, and everything in between.
I love ecosystems because they go from organisms as small as bacteria and algae to giant sequoias and aspen forests that are all one organism - and animals as small as copepods all the way to great blue whales. EVERYTHING has a vital role. And often the smallest parts are just as (if not more) important than the huge ones.
@@bobbyfrank737 Like all herbivores, if they get to numerous... Horses were here when native Americans showed up and did only go extinct in the new world 10 000 years ago. It was even the same species of horse. Equus ferus originated in North America and only came to the old world during the last ice age. The plants of that time are all around today still, the only thing that happened is that climatic zones shifted up north and to higher elevations. There is no proof a well managed horse population is harming the environment. Damage results from overpopulation or farmers blaming everything on horses, while they let lose livestock ten times their numbers in public land at the same time.
@@obiwahndagobah9543 Even if they weren't invasive, present day horses are domestic animals. Their health and wellbeing are tied to humans. For example the feral horses on Sable Island starve to death as they age due to having to chew on sandy grass that wears down their teeth.
@TheWoollyFrog The case of sable island horses would be no different if you would replace them with Przewalski horses (the last truly wild subspecies of Equus ferus). It is the environment itself that is not ideal, as it is an island with lots of sand. The better comparison should be with horse populations on the mainland, the mustangs. Most primitive horse breeds are very hardy and can happily live on their own. In that they are not different from true wild horses. Also natural selection induces a dedomestication effect like in dingoes or feral cats in Australia. So they are also getting more akin to wild animals in their behaviour again. In Europe there are also many horse populations that went wild again many centuries ago and hold their own despite harsh environments and predators.
As a child, my eyes were glued to the window driving past Elk Island. Banff National Park has always felt like home and I thank you for documenting this. To hear the population has grown so much made me cry.
I'm surprised this wasn't done earlier. My father was a microbiologist at the University of Alberta and I was with him at Waterton NP working on Brook Trout when we were forced back in the truck by a herd of Bison that stampeded through the research area. This was way back in the late 70s.
Love seeing people help nature along. We have so so so much to fix that we ruined. It is vital that we bring back the predators too though or the bison will overrun and eat up all the plants. Your videos are great! Subscribed.
Great! I was married in Banff 29.5 yrs ago, outside on terrace, nice snow capped peaks even in July! I'm a chick forest technician from Montreal, majored in Sylviculture, re-wilding rocks, opposite of dwindling! ❤
Nice to hear about a successful Bison reintroduction! Such population growth must be a good indicator that they're filling a niche that has been empty (and that the local predators haven't learned to hunt them again). I remember the Visent numbers over here in Europe were still pretty low back in the 1980s when I was a kid (always a high point of the visits at our zoo in Stockholm to see their Visents part of the breeding program since the start). Now there's thousands!
I think the rapid population growth in the first 7 years is a great indicator they are doing well in this habitat! I am interested to see over time how other species change/adapt to the reintroduction of a keystone species. That's amazing that there's been such a strong bison recovery in Europe. Seems like there has been more of a push to preserve and restore habitat for large mammals in the last couple of decades. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Oh wow. Congratulations, Canada. I live in New Zealand. We don't have Bison. But I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to all involved with this amazing project. I can't wait to see more videos.
The bison are fulfilling their role as a keystone species, creating a vibrant mosaic of habitats that benefit a wide range of species, from bugs to birds to bears. As of 2024, the herd has grown to over 130 animals and is thriving. This project is not only an ecological triumph but also a cultural one, as it helps renew historical and ecological connections for Indigenous communities.
Thanks so much! The growth the last few days has been humbling for sure. Really glad to see that people are excited about environmental and ecological topics.
WHAAAT!?... This is awesome sauce!! My daughter and I were in Banff last month. Just absolutely awestruck from the beauty of that area. Great job everyone! Bravo Alberta, bravo indeed 👏 Tyvm for doing this upload. Win my subscription that's for sure. God bless you and yours and the health and vitality of the bison. Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 ❤
As a MAGA conservative in the states, I believe this was a great thing you did, Canada. Wolves, bears and bison belong in the national parks of north America.
Oh wow! Super cool! Id love to get involved in an epic project like this. Awesome video my man. Definitely subbing. I'd love to learn more about conservation here in Canada!
Must mean free roaming bison. There was a paddock right beside the old number one highway that had bison in it right at turn into Banff town. Went there many times as a kid. Well done.
A friend used to give driving practice to us teenage girls by letting us drive his car through the Buffalo paddock back in the ‘70s near Banff. Thanks Mo! Those were the days! 😂
As a native indigenous of Canada this makes me so proud. Our past has haunted us. The vast killing of Plaines bison hurt our ecosystem. Happy to see it the government taking priority in helping these majestic creatures graze on their ancestral lands
As a descendant of immigrants, it pains and sickens me to think about the mass slaughter of the Bison. I can’t imagine what it feels like for people who’s entire way of life depended on the Bison. There are many, many people in this country who want to see more habitat restored. We need a strong voice from First Nations people to keep the pressure on governments and stakeholders to return more of the environment to a healthy natural state. As the original stewards of the land and waters, First Nations people have a certain moral authority and proven credibility in regards to environmental protection, and the courts are becoming more and more cognizant of that.
@@timberwolfdtproductions3890 Brucellosis wiped them out not bullets. The wild Spanish cattle introduced brucellosis to the bison in the US and it quickly spread north.
Thank you for showing this important step to land restoration and conservation. What an exciting project and will mean so much to so many. Thank you again and thank you to Parks Canada in using scientific research and the Indigenous People to protect our Parks. Science is the backbone of all data on species at risk.
@@DavidBysouth I think they can learn a lot from that experiment that's been going on in Russia. (At least they've been doing something right there. 😄)
Congratulations and my spirit bird offers your project wings to soar! My sister was born in Smoky Lake, my father helped create the Ukrainian Heritage Village beside Elk Island. I'll never forget the day we took my daughter, born in Sherwood Park past Elk Island; and she screamed in excitement ''Uffalo Addy!''. Buffalo Daddy, cartoons and pictures were true! We live in Australia now, and like her Grandfather, works in culture. I will share this & she will be sooo so proud of your work!
Working jobs like the ones seen with the Parks Canada staff here would definitely be really interesting and rewarding! But likely also challenging and demanding. Working any conservation or environmental science related job allows for some really amazing and impactful opportunities! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great job done, nice video. Going to be a success, sure of it. And rivers opening up too in the USA, so a lot of restoration projects making life return.
Love bison. In the 90s we went through a drive through ranch attraction, and they were pretty darned friendly, despite having the ability to flip over a truck. Wouldn't mind raising them myself if I had the aptitude. Really are beautiful creatures.
Only just getting them back in UK - European Bison granted and not free ranging but magnificent none the less and hopefully sign of things to come. All the best to the project, showing how ecosystems can be rebuilt.
They put bison into jasper and Banff already like 5 years ago, since then elk Island has been having issues with not enough parks taking bison out of their breeding program so they still release bison to get rid of em
Thanks for this information. Are you saying they are releasing them into Elk Island National Park? Or are they just being released in the wild outside the park system? Do you have any source that has more information?
Wow, I know Canada is obviously situated more to the north…and daylight hours are generally extended in summer and reduced in winter… but at 9:37 the trail cam says it’s recording at 13:52:26? And it looks pitch black out there. 😆 I realize it was in January, too, but I just thought that, even in Alberta, 1 PM wouldn’t be so dark,
In Banff the daylight hours won’t been dramatically impacted like they are at high latitudes. I would reckon this is just the type of footage the camera gathers or the time is incorrect. But it would not be dark at 1pm in January. Thanks for catching that though!
I went to the Weather Underground website to explore the temperature history for January 15, 2019. The closest they could come to Banff is Calgary, Canada, which isn't far away. The temperature in the early AM hours was below freezing and didn't get close to freezing until early afternoon. As the temperature on this camera says it is 5 degrees Celsius, I must conclude this trail camera is IR only and is working OK and the time is shortly before 2 PM. I'd post a direct link to the page, but TH-cam seems to frown on that, so I won't. Very sharp eyes by the original commentor for catching this apparent anomaly.
You didn't once mention the wild horses in Alberta with regard to the reintroduction of the Bison? Canada needs to get behind the wild horse population as well. Great news for the Bison 🦬 and long may it continue ❤ x.
Thank you for that program of reintroduction and for the film! It's so good to know a keystone species is given another chance to survive and thrive. Although most people should already know, it would have been "politic" to mention just WHO did the over-hunting that decimated the bison populations in the first place.
Thanks so much for the kind words and for bringing up the oversight on my part about including more info about why the bison were missing. I have realized this was an important piece to the story that should have been included. If I ever make a follow up on this, I will be sure to include it.
2:15 The near-extinction of bison in North America was not simply a matter of "overhunting." It was a deliberate and calculated effort tied to the displace the Indigenous peoples. Framing their near-extinction as mere "overhunting" erases the violent colonial history tied to this tragedy. Acknowledging this history is essential for reconciliation and justice.
Ask any First Nations person. The more bison Canada grows on the land, the more the land will receive physical and spiritual blessings. It's just like repairing a machine with a piece missing. In fact, that's exactly what it is. Fixing a broken world.
@@ArchieBunker-i2h Bison are a keystone species that are necessary to propagate most of the native prarie grasses. The prarie grasses are fire and drought resistant, and hold the topsoil, preventing agricultural land degradation. This is just the scientific part. You can find out more about the spiritual significance of bison by reading native mythology, if you don't personally know anyone who is First Nations.
Interesting video. I remember when I was a young lad driving through Banff and seeing bison beside the highway. Must have been in the late 1950s. What kind of bison were they?
Not sure what kind of bison you saw back then. But it’s likely they were in captivity or domesticated. This project was aimed at restoring ‘wild bison’. Thanks for watching!
I remember that too at the eastern entrance into Banff. We would always look to see if they were by the hwy. when we travelled back and forth to Calgary from Invermere,BC.
I am thrilled to hear about this project. Megafauna needs to have a place in the wild. Thankfully canada has a lot of space. How will the genetics of such a small herd be kept safe from inbreeding?
The herd was actively managed in a confined area for the first 18 months as they went through multiple breeding cycles. I assume now the staff checks for breeding patterns and ensures there is sufficient genetic diversity in the herd. Thanks for watching!
There was no 'wild' bison in Banff. They were a keystone species 150+ years ago. I have heard there may have been some domesticated or captive bison in the area
Great stuff. Would love to learn more about the impact you're measuring on related species - predator populations and behaviours, populations and behaviours of associated species of plant and animal, etc.
That is definitely going to be an interesting part of the project that I think some longer term data will help shed some light on. In the Parks Canada playlist in the pinned comment, there’s a video about how they are trying to assess the impact of the bison herd on song birds in the park that you could check out if you’re interested. Time will tell how their presence impacts other species in the food web. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
The irony of the reintroduction of Bison to Banff Park, about 30 years ago i spoke to a parks official who made me out as a fool with my question. He said that Bison were not ever present in the park, period end of discussion. What irony.
I remember seeing bison in the park, so you're not wrong. Then suddenly they weren't there. Were they removed by the officials at that time? I don't suppose they'll admit to it without being forced to. But I definitely remember them being there in the 70s and 80s.
@kme Yup your right, by the airport. They were fenced in and iam pretty sure the fence is still there. Spoke to warden a few years ago at Saskatchewan River Crossing parks site by the south side of the bridge and he told me that one of his duties in winter was to provide hay for the bison from the back of his pickup. His truck was a welcome site.
@@garykuiken6191 Yeah, I remember seeing the truck from time to time too. We went often bc my grandparents lived in BC and we're from Calgary. My siblings still live there, tho my mum's out in BC herself now.
This is a great question! I can only answer this based on the information I have, but for the first 18 months, they were in a confined area and managed by Parks Canada so that they could breed twice. I imagine that either Parks Canada was careful with which animals mated, or the animals were not related to one another. Once they were released and the herd started to grow, I think the assumption was that there would be enough genetic diversity to mitigate any inbreeding impacts and I’m sure Parks Canada continues to monitor the breeding tendencies of the herd. But this is a great point for these kinds of projects! Thanks so much for your comment and for subscribing!
This is a great question! I can only answer this based on the information I have read but you are correct there were originally 16 bison transported to the park. For the first 18 months, they were in a confined area and managed by Parks Canada so that they could breed twice. I imagine that either Parks Canada was careful with which animals mated, or the animals were not related to one another. Once they were released and the herd started to grow, I think the assumption was that there would be enough genetic diversity to mitigate any inbreeding impacts and I’m sure Parks Canada continues to monitor the breeding tendencies of the herd. But this is a great point for these kinds of projects! Thanks so much for your comment!
I'd be very interested to hear about the ecosystem restoration, how the reintroduction of bison in this area has impacted the native species growing in the area. From the research with AMP rotational grazing with cattle farmers they are seeing significant increases in native plants and even return of native birds like quail to the land.
That’s a great idea for a follow up video in the future! There is definitely going to be a big impact on species and ecosystem processes at different scales from the bison reintroduction. Thanks for your comment!
Credit to Parks Canada for the footage shown in this video. If you want to learn more about the Banff Bison Reintroduction Project, check out the playlist they have put together here: th-cam.com/play/PLOe6XX2wBaiZ0fwPsEcTDIECXkchMf2bF.html
Yeah keep acting like the natives weren’t responsible for killing millions of bison off.
#LIES
Bring some to Ontario. Doug Ford would love to abuse them by siccing hunting dogs on them. He's a useless premier too.
Amazing news. The biggest shock to me is how it went from 16 in 2018 to nearly 100 in 2024. This shows how suitable the park is for them and if they’re introduced to other parks like this, I can see an easy and quick recovery for the species.
We live east of Elk Island Park and we take our bison for granted. We are extremely proud of Parks Canada for looking after this incredible creature and for introducing them to Banff Natural Park. Bravo!
They are a beautiful, smart animal. We need them back all across North America.
They are a huge difference maker in many ecosystems and have such strong cultural importance as well. Thanks for watching!
But cancel Doug Ford 1st.
Bison were reintroduced in Saskatchewan just a few years ago at Wanuskewin, near Saskatoon. We had the privilege of going to see them just after they were brought in. Nothing does justice to the size of them when you see them in person. They were at the far end of the pen and still huge...
Definitely an iconic animal in Canada! Thanks for watching!
saw lots of wild herds in zama
I just assumed that there already were bison in Banff National Park. So, I looked it up, and I was thinking about Wood Bison in Wood Buffalo National Park, and that is a different subspecies altogether. It is great that Plains Bison are returning to another park in Canada. it is to be hoped that they will do well.
It will be exciting to see how the bison and the ecosystem do in a few more years after they have had a chance to settle in.
Thanks for flagging Wood Buffalo National Park, that’s actually an interesting situation with the bison there as well as many have bovine tuberculosis. So further north in the Northwest Territories they actually have to have a ‘no bison’ zone so prevent spreading any infection between the Wood Buffalo bison and the wild bison in the NWT. Thanks for watching!
@@DavidBysouth
Is there any manner of treating or vaccinating the Wood Buffalo for bovine tuberculosis? Or would the only way be to separate out the healthy from the unhealthy and have a cull? The latter seems like a herculean task that would be well-nigh impossible. I know that in the case of the Tasmanian Devil, captive populations have been established that are clean and not infected with the contagious cancer. However, there is no way, as of now, to deal with the problem in the wild.
I’m by no means an expert on the tuberculosis situation, but from what I understand, there is currently a management plan in place to reduce the risk of spread of the disease to unaffected bison. But I think they are actively trying to find a more long term solution for treatment and remediation of the disease while that’s happening.
Thanks for sharing the Tasmanian devil example for comparison!
Thanks! I knew about the other herd but your info eased my mind. When I lived in northern Ontario one of the mines imported a small herd of bison and kept them within the influence of air from the smelter. They thrived! I guess they’re more sensitive to gas emotions than we are … 🇨🇦🖖🏻🇨🇦
I think the wood bison in Wood Buffalo NP may be the only real population, of any bison, in Canada, besides any farmed or captive herds. Granted, all bison are unfortunately "managed" or owned by someone or some entity, ever since the mass bison slaughter of the 18th-19th centuries. A lot of it was purely for fun. For sport. For target practice from moving trains, even. A lot of it was because the herds were considered "in the way" of manifest destiny... and settling the Midwest and Western US. Ever since their numbers plummeted so drastically, there really aren’t wild herds, other than Yellowstone and, now, Banff. 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
Great move! There are now 2,200 plains buffalo and 11,000 wood bison in western Canada! Way to go restoring the bison in Canada’s first national park! Theres a herd or two of bison in Ontario as well. One of the mines procured a herd of bison to prove to the public that the air/environment of the mine was safe for humans. Last I heard, they’re still thriving! And there’s a farmer up there who raises buffalo as well. 🇨🇦🖖🏻🇨🇦
Thanks for sharing some information about bison from other parts of the country. Thanks for watching!
This is how I want my tax dollars to be used
good usage of tax payer dollars
Wouldn't it be amazing if we had categories that we could literally choose where our tax dollars were sent to and spent on?
@@KurtisLowe-o5j It would be cool but as far as you know democracy is all about % of people who vote. If you have many stupid people a lot of your tax money will be lost thanks to stupid votes.
6 million dollars to relocate some 20 bison seems "slightly" expensive to me.
@ lol but the billions in subsidies that we pay to get a pipeline built is fine for you?
Good job Canada!!! Proud to be Canadian!
Thanks for watching!
BS. All they did was move them from Maximum Security to Medium Security. Something even Corrections Canada can't get right.
I love how everything in nature is connected. Every living organism fills a role, where not one is more important than another. From the bison to the grasslands that feed them, to the insects, rodents and the birds who live within, to the wolves and the rivers they shape, and everything in between.
That was amazing to read. Thanks for putting the interconnectedness of an ecosystem in such an insightful way! Really appreciate your comment!
I love ecosystems because they go from organisms as small as bacteria and algae to giant sequoias and aspen forests that are all one organism - and animals as small as copepods all the way to great blue whales. EVERYTHING has a vital role. And often the smallest parts are just as (if not more) important than the huge ones.
To be honest it’s survivorship bias that only shows the equilibrium. Many species went extinct to reach that balance.
Except botflies, those are allowed to go extinct.
Maybe mosquitoes too
Have watched wild horses that are monitored in Alberta. The introduction of bison is wonderful to see and learn about.😊
Must be amazing to see wild horses! Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!
@@DavidBysouth Wild horses are actually fairly destructive
@@bobbyfrank737 Like all herbivores, if they get to numerous...
Horses were here when native Americans showed up and did only go extinct in the new world 10 000 years ago. It was even the same species of horse. Equus ferus originated in North America and only came to the old world during the last ice age. The plants of that time are all around today still, the only thing that happened is that climatic zones shifted up north and to higher elevations. There is no proof a well managed horse population is harming the environment. Damage results from overpopulation or farmers blaming everything on horses, while they let lose livestock ten times their numbers in public land at the same time.
@@obiwahndagobah9543 Even if they weren't invasive, present day horses are domestic animals. Their health and wellbeing are tied to humans. For example the feral horses on Sable Island starve to death as they age due to having to chew on sandy grass that wears down their teeth.
@TheWoollyFrog The case of sable island horses would be no different if you would replace them with Przewalski horses (the last truly wild subspecies of Equus ferus). It is the environment itself that is not ideal, as it is an island with lots of sand. The better comparison should be with horse populations on the mainland, the mustangs. Most primitive horse breeds are very hardy and can happily live on their own. In that they are not different from true wild horses. Also natural selection induces a dedomestication effect like in dingoes or feral cats in Australia. So they are also getting more akin to wild animals in their behaviour again. In Europe there are also many horse populations that went wild again many centuries ago and hold their own despite harsh environments and predators.
What a wonderful project, well done people ( and Canadian Gov) and thank you!
Thanks for watching!
As a child, my eyes were glued to the window driving past Elk Island. Banff National Park has always felt like home and I thank you for documenting this. To hear the population has grown so much made me cry.
Thanks so much for sharing, Im really glad you enjoyed the video. You live in an amazing part of the country!
Amazing work Parks Camada!
They have some really great success stories. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
I'm surprised this wasn't done earlier. My father was a microbiologist at the University of Alberta and I was with him at Waterton NP working on Brook Trout when we were forced back in the truck by a herd of Bison that stampeded through the research area. This was way back in the late 70s.
Interesting, it seems very sporadic where the bison were and were not extirpated. Thanks for sharing!
Excellent video - nice to see Karsten Heuer doing what he loved (he passed a few days ago)
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed! I just found out he passed as well, he made such a huge impact.
Love seeing people help nature along. We have so so so much to fix that we ruined. It is vital that we bring back the predators too though or the bison will overrun and eat up all the plants. Your videos are great! Subscribed.
So glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for your great comment!
Welcome home, Bison. It's amazing to have you back.
Great! I was married in Banff 29.5 yrs ago, outside on terrace, nice snow capped peaks even in July! I'm a chick forest technician from Montreal, majored in Sylviculture, re-wilding rocks, opposite of dwindling! ❤
Sounds like you do some really cool work!
Nice to hear about a successful Bison reintroduction!
Such population growth must be a good indicator that they're filling a niche that has been empty (and that the local predators haven't learned to hunt them again).
I remember the Visent numbers over here in Europe were still pretty low back in the 1980s when I was a kid (always a high point of the visits at our zoo in Stockholm to see their Visents part of the breeding program since the start). Now there's thousands!
I think the rapid population growth in the first 7 years is a great indicator they are doing well in this habitat! I am interested to see over time how other species change/adapt to the reintroduction of a keystone species.
That's amazing that there's been such a strong bison recovery in Europe. Seems like there has been more of a push to preserve and restore habitat for large mammals in the last couple of decades.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Oh wow. Congratulations, Canada.
I live in New Zealand. We don't have Bison.
But I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to all involved with this amazing project.
I can't wait to see more videos.
Said the Grizzlies: "mmmm, more food variety!"
Will be interesting to see how other species react!
The Griz only go for the calves, as the adults can give them a really bad day.
@@carlthor91 Watch some videos of grizzlies chasing down healthy adult bison in Yellowstone and dispatching them...
Wolves, too. I lived long enough to see some dreams come true. Rewilding.
The bison are fulfilling their role as a keystone species, creating a vibrant mosaic of habitats that benefit a wide range of species, from bugs to birds to bears. As of 2024, the herd has grown to over 130 animals and is thriving. This project is not only an ecological triumph but also a cultural one, as it helps renew historical and ecological connections for Indigenous communities.
Congratulations on reaching and surpassing your goal of 1,000 subscribers. Only a couple of days ago you had around 700.
Thanks so much! The growth the last few days has been humbling for sure. Really glad to see that people are excited about environmental and ecological topics.
There are wood bison in the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon as well
Im genuinely suprised by how few subscribers you have. This video was extremely informative and inspiring. You did a great job
Thank you so much for the kind words, I really appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed the video!
the wolf in banff are probably realy happy with the return of bison
Ty, I learned so much from everyone who spoke within this video.
New subscriber🇨🇦🥳🙏
So glad to hear you enjoyed the video and learned something new! Thank you so much for watching and subscribing!
WHAAAT!?... This is awesome sauce!! My daughter and I were in Banff last month. Just absolutely awestruck from the beauty of that area. Great job everyone! Bravo Alberta, bravo indeed 👏 Tyvm for doing this upload. Win my subscription that's for sure. God bless you and yours and the health and vitality of the bison.
Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 ❤
Thanks so much for the kind words and so glad you enjoyed the video and your time in Banff!
@DavidBysouth We did. Thank you for asking.
As a MAGA conservative in the states, I believe this was a great thing you did, Canada. Wolves, bears and bison belong in the national parks of north America.
They had a herd there, at the paddock, next to the 'emergency' air strip, in the 70's and 80's. This time they moved them into the back country.
Oh wow! Super cool! Id love to get involved in an epic project like this. Awesome video my man. Definitely subbing. I'd love to learn more about conservation here in Canada!
Thanks so much for the support and the great feedback! Really glad to hear you’re excited about conservation in Canada!
Must mean free roaming bison. There was a paddock right beside the old number one highway that had bison in it right at turn into Banff town. Went there many times as a kid. Well done.
For sure! This is specifically for ‘wild’ free roaming Bison rather than those in breeding programs or captive
A friend used to give driving practice to us teenage girls by letting us drive his car through the Buffalo paddock back in the ‘70s near Banff. Thanks Mo! Those were the days! 😂
Wow. Well done everyone involved. Wish we had bison in Ireland! Solid work again David.
Thanks for the great feedback!
As a native indigenous of Canada this makes me so proud. Our past has haunted us. The vast killing of Plaines bison hurt our ecosystem. Happy to see it the government taking priority in helping these majestic creatures graze on their ancestral lands
As a descendant of immigrants, it pains and sickens me to think about the mass slaughter of the Bison. I can’t imagine what it feels like for people who’s entire way of life depended on the Bison. There are many, many people in this country who want to see more habitat restored. We need a strong voice from First Nations people to keep the pressure on governments and stakeholders to return more of the environment to a healthy natural state. As the original stewards of the land and waters, First Nations people have a certain moral authority and proven credibility in regards to environmental protection, and the courts are becoming more and more cognizant of that.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I am glad Parks Canada is working to restore the Plains Bison as well
Are any of the presenters First Nation members, who have biggest cultural investment here?
@@timberwolfdtproductions3890 Brucellosis wiped them out not bullets. The wild Spanish cattle introduced brucellosis to the bison in the US and it quickly spread north.
@@ArchieBunker-i2h Thanks Arch!
Excellent presentation, thank you so much.
Thanks so much for the kind words! Really glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!
@@DavidBysouth I'm in New Zealand but am fascinated by open spaces etc. I watch and support projects like American Prairie when I can.
That’s great you are always looking to learn about new areas!
Thank you for showing this important step to land restoration and conservation. What an exciting project and will mean so much to so many. Thank you again and thank you to Parks Canada in using scientific research and the Indigenous People to protect our Parks. Science is the backbone of all data on species at risk.
Such a great comment! Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed!
Yes! And, we were talking about the importance of mega fauna.
As always, well done, David.
Best,
JJ
The large keystone species definitely have a huge impact on the landscape! Thanks for watching and commenting as always!
@@DavidBysouth I think they can learn a lot from that experiment that's been going on in Russia.
(At least they've been doing something right there. 😄)
It will be interesting to see in this case the ecological impact of the bison after 15-20ish years
Congratulations and my spirit bird offers your project wings to soar! My sister was born in Smoky Lake, my father helped create the Ukrainian Heritage Village beside Elk Island. I'll never forget the day we took my daughter, born in Sherwood Park past Elk Island; and she screamed in excitement ''Uffalo Addy!''. Buffalo Daddy, cartoons and pictures were true! We live in Australia now, and like her Grandfather, works in culture. I will share this & she will be sooo so proud of your work!
Fantastic in all ways. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the kind words, really appreciated!
Thanks for the great news! Very well done 👍
Thanks for the kind words!
A good introductory video. Looking forward to a follow up regarding the Historic Cultural Hunt this October & November. Inspirational!
The hunt is definitely a really interesting socio-ecological story! Thanks for watching!
I went to school for the wrong things
that looks like a neat job
Working jobs like the ones seen with the Parks Canada staff here would definitely be really interesting and rewarding! But likely also challenging and demanding. Working any conservation or environmental science related job allows for some really amazing and impactful opportunities! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great job done, nice video. Going to be a success, sure of it. And rivers opening up too in the USA, so a lot of restoration projects making life return.
where i live (in Canada) we have bison in a national park..... you're making it sound like its the first time we finally bringing bison in Canada...
A fantastic positive result for nature and people. Well done to all concerned
Just watched Ken Burns documentary of Anerican Buffalo! Thrilled to come across Canadian efforts to repopulate! 💕🇨🇦
Love bison. In the 90s we went through a drive through ranch attraction, and they were pretty darned friendly, despite having the ability to flip over a truck. Wouldn't mind raising them myself if I had the aptitude. Really are beautiful creatures.
Visited from the UK 15 times to ski in Banff area, wonderfull to see wildlife close at hand, not sure of seeing Bison walking down Banff Avenue.
Only just getting them back in UK - European Bison granted and not free ranging but magnificent none the less and hopefully sign of things to come. All the best to the project, showing how ecosystems can be rebuilt.
This was a very nice summary of the project. Thank you for the video!
Thanks you so much for the great feedback! Really glad you enjoyed!
They put bison into jasper and Banff already like 5 years ago, since then elk Island has been having issues with not enough parks taking bison out of their breeding program so they still release bison to get rid of em
Thanks for this information. Are you saying they are releasing them into Elk Island National Park? Or are they just being released in the wild outside the park system? Do you have any source that has more information?
Delighted to find your channel!
Thanks so much, I’m glad you are enjoying the videos!
There were bison in Banff in the 1990s. I don’t recall the exact year they were removed.
I have heard there may have been some around that time but they were in captivity.
Awesome! 🦬🦬🦬
Great video David. I hope our descendants can enjoy this beautiful creatures
Thanks so much for watching!
this is a super informative video It's super interesting!
Thanks so much for the super kind words and for watching the video! So glad you enjoyed!
So cool. I love those awesome creatures! There should be massive heards across Canada👍
This is so exciting! North America NEEDS bison
Wow! Congratulations! This makes me happy 🎊🎉🍾
Really glad you enjoyed!
Wow, I know Canada is obviously situated more to the north…and daylight hours are generally extended in summer and reduced in winter… but at 9:37 the trail cam says it’s recording at 13:52:26? And it looks pitch black out there. 😆 I realize it was in January, too, but I just thought that, even in Alberta, 1 PM wouldn’t be so dark,
In Banff the daylight hours won’t been dramatically impacted like they are at high latitudes. I would reckon this is just the type of footage the camera gathers or the time is incorrect. But it would not be dark at 1pm in January. Thanks for catching that though!
I went to the Weather Underground website to explore the temperature history for January 15, 2019. The closest they could come to Banff is Calgary, Canada, which isn't far away. The temperature in the early AM hours was below freezing and didn't get close to freezing until early afternoon. As the temperature on this camera says it is 5 degrees Celsius, I must conclude this trail camera is IR only and is working OK and the time is shortly before 2 PM. I'd post a direct link to the page, but TH-cam seems to frown on that, so I won't. Very sharp eyes by the original commentor for catching this apparent anomaly.
Love this video ❤ glad you’re getting huge views!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!
great work, thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for watching!
You didn't once mention the wild horses in Alberta with regard to the reintroduction of the Bison? Canada needs to get behind the wild horse population as well. Great news for the Bison 🦬 and long may it continue ❤ x.
Hope there is strong laws , no hunting them !
I am surprised they have not done this before . I can recall Bison in Elk Island National Park way back in the 1960's .
Thank you for that program of reintroduction and for the film! It's so good to know a keystone species is given another chance to survive and thrive. Although most people should already know, it would have been "politic" to mention just WHO did the over-hunting that decimated the bison populations in the first place.
Thanks so much for the kind words and for bringing up the oversight on my part about including more info about why the bison were missing. I have realized this was an important piece to the story that should have been included. If I ever make a follow up on this, I will be sure to include it.
It's crazy that there aren't bison there, but i can drive down the road 20 minutes and end up in a park full of bison.
2:15 The near-extinction of bison in North America was not simply a matter of "overhunting." It was a deliberate and calculated effort tied to the displace the Indigenous peoples. Framing their near-extinction as mere "overhunting" erases the violent colonial history tied to this tragedy. Acknowledging this history is essential for reconciliation and justice.
This makes me happy.
Ask any First Nations person. The more bison Canada grows on the land, the more the land will receive physical and spiritual blessings.
It's just like repairing a machine with a piece missing. In fact, that's exactly what it is. Fixing a broken world.
Very well put, thanks for your comment!
?
@@ArchieBunker-i2h Bison are a keystone species that are necessary to propagate most of the native prarie grasses. The prarie grasses are fire and drought resistant, and hold the topsoil, preventing agricultural land degradation. This is just the scientific part. You can find out more about the spiritual significance of bison by reading native mythology, if you don't personally know anyone who is First Nations.
@@kentalanlee Mythology, you nailed it.
@@ArchieBunker-i2h Yes. Both science AND religion agree. Funny that.
Watch out for their farts. They do fart like cattle. 😂😂😂
Interesting video. I remember when I was a young lad driving through Banff and seeing bison beside the highway. Must have been in the late 1950s. What kind of bison were they?
Not sure what kind of bison you saw back then. But it’s likely they were in captivity or domesticated. This project was aimed at restoring ‘wild bison’. Thanks for watching!
@DavidBysouth Would they have had domestic bison in Banff? Your video said their hasn't been bison in Banff for 140 years. 🥴
@@jimw.5809 I've heard anecdotally that there were domestic bison in Banff. There hadn't been 'wild' or 'free roaming' bison for over 140 years
@DavidBysouth ok thanks 👍
I remember that too at the eastern entrance into Banff. We would always look to see if they were by the hwy. when we travelled back and forth to Calgary from Invermere,BC.
What kind of Bison is in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba?
We have bisons in Ukraine
That’s amazing! It’s interesting to see the diverse climates/habitats different bison species can live in. Thanks for watching!
@@DavidBysouthalmost the same climat over there...
@@DavidBysoutheuropean bison "wisents" are forest dwellers in europe. there also some in poland. impressive creatures.
🦬 very interesting 🤔
@@Optimismus53And in many european countries, netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Germany, etc. They are reintroducing them
I am thrilled to hear about this project. Megafauna needs to have a place in the wild. Thankfully canada has a lot of space. How will the genetics of such a small herd be kept safe from inbreeding?
The herd was actively managed in a confined area for the first 18 months as they went through multiple breeding cycles. I assume now the staff checks for breeding patterns and ensures there is sufficient genetic diversity in the herd. Thanks for watching!
@@DavidBysouth Thank you very much for that answer!
@@aurelbongers2038 No problem, thanks for asking such a great question!
Given the small number introduced how do you safeguard against inbreeding?
Was there really no bison in Banff? I live in Alberta and there's a few large bison farms just 5 minutes up the road from where I live.
There was no 'wild' bison in Banff. They were a keystone species 150+ years ago. I have heard there may have been some domesticated or captive bison in the area
How INCREDIBLE! This is beyond awesome!
So glad you enjoyed!
Wonderful story! Great job but you have to wonder about the sanity of the hunters that hunted their prey to extinction....
Hopefully we can be more preventative than reactive going forward and learn from past mistakes. Thanks for watching!
I wish "I" could get airlifted into that Same Park!! Merry Christmas Everyone !🤶🎅🌲🤶🎅🌲
Awesome project, now what do you do with the tourons 😮
Great stuff. Would love to learn more about the impact you're measuring on related species - predator populations and behaviours, populations and behaviours of associated species of plant and animal, etc.
That is definitely going to be an interesting part of the project that I think some longer term data will help shed some light on. In the Parks Canada playlist in the pinned comment, there’s a video about how they are trying to assess the impact of the bison herd on song birds in the park that you could check out if you’re interested. Time will tell how their presence impacts other species in the food web. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
Congrats Canada.❤
👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😆
The irony of the reintroduction of Bison to Banff Park, about 30 years ago i spoke to a parks official who made me out as a fool with my question. He said that Bison were not ever present in the park, period end of discussion. What irony.
I remember seeing bison in the park, so you're not wrong. Then suddenly they weren't there. Were they removed by the officials at that time? I don't suppose they'll admit to it without being forced to. But I definitely remember them being there in the 70s and 80s.
@kme Yup your right, by the airport. They were fenced in and iam pretty sure the fence is still there. Spoke to warden a few years ago at Saskatchewan River Crossing parks site by the south side of the bridge and he told me that one of his duties in winter was to provide hay for the bison from the back of his pickup. His truck was a welcome site.
@@garykuiken6191 Yeah, I remember seeing the truck from time to time too. We went often bc my grandparents lived in BC and we're from Calgary. My siblings still live there, tho my mum's out in BC herself now.
amazing stuff
Thank you for this well put together video.
Is the genetic biodiversity sufficient from such a small original group?🤔
Subscribed.👍
This is a great question! I can only answer this based on the information I have, but for the first 18 months, they were in a confined area and managed by Parks Canada so that they could breed twice. I imagine that either Parks Canada was careful with which animals mated, or the animals were not related to one another.
Once they were released and the herd started to grow, I think the assumption was that there would be enough genetic diversity to mitigate any inbreeding impacts and I’m sure Parks Canada continues to monitor the breeding tendencies of the herd.
But this is a great point for these kinds of projects! Thanks so much for your comment and for subscribing!
There’s a buffalo range just east of Irvine, AB near the Saskatchewan border
Did I hear correct that your introduction was 16 animals? Is there any concern with inbreeding with such a small initial population?
This is a great question! I can only answer this based on the information I have read but you are correct there were originally 16 bison transported to the park. For the first 18 months, they were in a confined area and managed by Parks Canada so that they could breed twice. I imagine that either Parks Canada was careful with which animals mated, or the animals were not related to one another.
Once they were released and the herd started to grow, I think the assumption was that there would be enough genetic diversity to mitigate any inbreeding impacts and I’m sure Parks Canada continues to monitor the breeding tendencies of the herd.
But this is a great point for these kinds of projects! Thanks so much for your comment!
This is terrific news!
Thanks for watching!
Parks gets to have all the fun :P
The wolves are going to love this.👍
It will be really cool to see how all the species in the ecosystem adapt to having bison on the land
Good job
Thanks for watching!
amazing
Strange but I remember seeing Bison in Lake Louise in 1980
So awesome! They did this is Alaska too
About time for my ppl 🤘🏼
Wonderful news!
Thanks for watching!
I'd be very interested to hear about the ecosystem restoration, how the reintroduction of bison in this area has impacted the native species growing in the area. From the research with AMP rotational grazing with cattle farmers they are seeing significant increases in native plants and even return of native birds like quail to the land.
That’s a great idea for a follow up video in the future! There is definitely going to be a big impact on species and ecosystem processes at different scales from the bison reintroduction. Thanks for your comment!