Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell announced Tuesday that work will begin early this fall to prepare to restore wood bison to the Alaskan landscape in spring 2015. Wood bison were last seen roaming wild in Alaska more than 100 years ago. The Department of Fish and Game will release 50-100 bison in the Lower Yukon/Innoko River area from the captive herd currently held at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The reintroduction area was selected because it has excellent habitat and strong local support.

“This is the culmination of many years of hard work and a triumph for conservation,” Governor Parnell said. “Our vision is that these animals will be restored to the landscape and provide additional hunting opportunity once the species is firmly established.”

The release was made possible by a special rule negotiated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which establishes the bison as a non-essential, experimental population under the Endangered Species Act. Wood bison are considered threatened in Alaska because they are listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act and their status carries over into the U.S. Under the rule, the state is granted the primary authority over the management of wood bison, including an allowance for regulated hunting.

“I appreciate the willingness of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work with us in developing this special rule,” said Cora Campbell, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. “This entire project has been possible only through collaboration and partnership between state, federal, and private partners who have stepped forward to make this a success.”

“The Lower Yukon/Innoko River area was carefully selected because it offers excellent bison habitat, strong community support for reintroduction, and minimal potential for conflict with agriculture or resource development,” said Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Joe Balash. “This is an opportunity to enhance Alaska’s wildlife in concert with our other land use goals.”

The concept of reintroducing wood bison to Alaska has been a focus of cooperative efforts among the state, Canada, local land owners, Native organizations and other conservation interests since 1991. In June 2008, 53 wood bison were transported from Canada to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center at Portage, Alaska. Work will begin now on planning for the release and preparing the release site, with bison transport and release scheduled for the spring of 2015.

  Alaska, re-introduction, wood bison