Frequently asked questions

This bison skull found near the town of Banff is over 6,000 years old!

For thousands of years, bison roamed the valleys of what is now Banff National Park. They disappeared from this area around 140 years ago, but they left behind clues of their presence that we still find today.

Traditional knowledge, explorer accounts and archeological evidence tell us that bison travelled through this area.

Bison didn’t gather in the vast herds that were common on the plains, but even in low numbers, they helped shape the ecosystems that we enjoy today.

A bison lifts its head from the grass. Spring has arrived – bringing fresh shoots. It lets out a snort and then rolls on the ground to scratch an itch, leaving behind a tuft of warm winter fur.An endangered Olive-sided flycatcher swoops over the small herd and spots the fur blowing in the wind. Perfect to keep its chicks cozy in its new nest.

Bison are ecosystem engineers. They shape the landscape in ways that help many other plants and animals, ranging from bugs to birds to bears. Shedding their winter fur that is used by birds to line their nests is one example of the many ways bison impact the ecosystem.

Other examples of bison as ecosystem engineers include:

• Grazing and wallowing creates habitat for a range of animals including elk, ground squirrels and badgers.
• As North America’s largest land mammal, bison provide a rich source of nutrients for scavengers, bears and wolves.

Bison are also vital to the history and culture of many indigenous peoples.

For thousands of years, many indigenous nations traveled through what is now Banff National Park, hunting bison and burning forests and meadows to improve habitat quality for bison and other animals.

For indigenous peoples, bison traditionally provided a range of life-sustaining resources including:

• food – especially in the form of pemmican;
• hides for tipi walls;
• bones and sinew for tools and
• leather for clothing such as moccasins.

In January 2017, Parks Canada hosted a blessing ceremony at Elk Island National Park indigenous nations in Treaty 6 and 7 and the Metis of Alberta to give bison a proper spiritual send-off before their journey to Banff.

To honour the connection between indigenous cultures and bison, Parks Canada is committed to welcoming indigenous peoples to reconnect with bison. This may include sharing traditional knowledge, participating in ceremonies or getting involved in on-the-ground activities.

The plains of North America were once rich with the sounds of snorts, rumbles and pounding hoofsteps of vast herds of bison.

Their herds once numbered as big as 30 million, but bison nearly became extinct within a single human lifetime. Many factors led to their near-disappearance, but over-hunting was the main cause that left less than 1,000 surviving bison.

By the 1850s, bison had also vanished from the Banff area – leaving a hole in both the ecosystem and in the human communities that depended on them.

Luckily, bison were given a second chance – thanks in large part to the leadership of Parks Canada.

For over a century, Parks Canada has been an international leader in bison conservation – helping bring bison back from the brink of extinction.

In the early 1900s, 700 plains bison from the last wild herds were bought by the Government of Canada from a rancher in Montana. The bison were shipped north to Elk Island and Buffalo national parks.

Buffalo National Park (near Wainwright, Alberta) closed thirty years later due to disease, overgrazing, and lack of funding, but the bison in Elk Island National Park thrived. They are now the primary seed stock for reintroduction projects around the world, including Montana, Russia, Alaska, and Grasslands National Park.

Parks Canada also manages wild, free-roaming bison in Prince Albert National Park and Wood Buffalo National Park and protects several display herds across the country.

Why bring bison back to Banff National Park?

Wild bison disappeared from what is now called Banff National Park before the park was created in 1885.

Restoring bison in Banff is important for the following reasons:

Ecological and Conservation Benefits
Bison are key grazers that once shaped the valleys in what is now Banff National Park. As “ecosystem engineers,” they change the landscape in ways that help many plants and animals.

Cultural Reconnection
Bison were a vital part of the lives of indigenous people in this area, and they still play an important role in many indigenous cultures. Restoring bison to the landscape will renew cultural and historical connections.

Inspiring Discovery
The return of bison will provide opportunities for visitors and Canadians to learn about the ecological and cultural importance of this iconic animal.

The Conclusion of the Pilot (2022)

• Parks Canada has reached the end of the five-year Plains Bison Reintroduction Pilot. To mark this conclusion, Parks Canada prepared the Report on the Bison Reintroduction Pilot 2017 – 2022 and sought feedback from Indigenous groups, stakeholders, and the public over a 30-day engagement period. From November 9, 2022 – December 14, 2022 Canadians were encouraged to review the Report and share feedback.
• Comment and questions received during engagement helped to inform and finalize the Report on the Plains Bison Reintroduction Pilot 2017-2022. The final report is now available to the public, along with a ‘What We Heard’ summary of engagement.

Next Steps (2023 and Ongoing)

• The reintroduction pilot has helped Banff National Park understand how we can keep bison on the landscape in Banff National Park. Based on the feedback received throughout the five-year pilot and the recent public engagement period, support for bison reintroduction to Banff National Park continues to be high.
• Parks Canada is pleased to announce that, moving forward, we will work towards keeping bison on the landscape within Banff National Park while the Agency explores future options for bison management through the development of a bison management plan.

The Report on the Plains Bison Reintroduction Pilot summarizes what Parks Canada learned over the 5-year pilot period bison were reintroduced and managed in Banff National Park. The Report summarizes the results of the pilot and includes results of the reintroduction and subsequent monitoring.

Comment and questions received during engagement helped to inform and finalize the Report on the Plains Bison Reintroduction Pilot 2017-2022. The final report is now available to the public, along with a ‘What We Heard’ summary of engagement.

The goals and objectives of the Reintroduction Pilot included supporting ecosystem integrity, enriching visitor experience, facilitating cultural connections, and providing learning and stewardship opportunities, both in the park and from afar. Overall, the goals and objectives of the pilot were achieved.

• The bison remained healthy and demonstrated a healthy growth rate with minimal mortalities, they appear to have adapted quickly to the mountain habitat, and they remained, for the most part, within the Park.
• Negative impacts to other species were not observed, and there were no threats to human safety or property damage reported.
• Establishing and strengthening relationships occurred through the involvement of a number of Indigenous Nations and stakeholders throughout the pilot.
• A variety of educational programs provided the opportunity to enrich visitor experience and understanding.

Based on the 2015 Reintroduction Plan for Plains Bison, Parks Canada evaluated eight (8) key indicators, the results of which are included in the Report:

1. Visitor safety and experience impacts;
2. Relationships with Indigenous groups and stakeholders;
3. Response to citizen engagement and stewardship programs;
4. Bison home ranges, monitoring and responses;
5. Mitigating effects of the bison project on other species;
6. Bison population growth and population targets;
7. Public awareness, education and appreciation;
8. Factors influencing bison movement and habitat selection.

Yes! Almost 120 million people watched, read, and listened to updates about the project over the last 5 years. The Bison Reintroduction Pilot offered Canadians many learning opportunities to enrich visitor experience and understanding of ecological restoration in national parks.

Yes, and no. The 16 animals which were translocated from Elk Island National Park in 2017 adapted quickly to Banff’s mountain environment and now number about 80 animals, showing robust health and growth. However, the bison still require periodic management to keep them in the 1200 km2 reintroduction zone, including short sections of wildlife-friendly bison drift fencing, and infrequent herding and recapture of wayward animals by the Parks Canada team.

Parks Canada is pleased to announce that, moving forward, we will work towards keeping bison on the landscape within Banff National Park while the Agency explores future options for bison management through the development of a bison management plan. Indigenous peoples and stakeholders will continue to be informed and involved throughout this process.

Where are the bison now?

How can I experience bison in the front country?

Are there any impacts on backcountry users?

Can I see the bison?

What do I need to know before travelling in bison country?

• Experienced backcountry users interested in travelling to the Panther Valley area need to be prepared for remote, non-motorized backcountry travel. The soft-release pasture is located in one of the most remote backcountry areas within Banff National Park – approximately 40 km from the nearest road.
• Visitors traveling in the backcountry must purchase a wilderness pass and backcountry camping fees (and grazing fees for equestrian users).
• Book your backcountry travel at visitor centres located in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and/or Yoho national parks.

Check for regular safety updates and information regarding backcountry travel.

How did the bison get to Banff?

How will bison shape the landscape?

• Bison fur provides insulation for bird nests.
• Their grazing patterns create vibrant habitat for other grazers such as elk.
• As North America’s largest land mammal, bison provide a rich source of nutrients for scavengers, bears and wolves.

We will be monitoring how the return of bison influences the landscape as they start to fulfil their role as a keystone species once again.

How are the bison doing?

How many bison are in the Banff herd?

What caused the near-extinction of plains bison across North America?

What role does Parks Canada play in bison conservation?

Bison or buffalo?

How are you involving Indigenous peoples in the reintroduction?

How would you keep bison from leaving the reintroduction zone?

• Selecting a reintroduction zone that is mostly naturally contained with steep, rocky ridges;
• Taking a “soft-release” approach by holding the herd in an enclosed pasture for 16 months to allow the herd to calve twice and anchor to their new home;
• Using short stretches (approx. 7 km) of wildlife-friendly wire fencing in key pinchpoints to discourage bison from leaving the reintroduction zone;
• Burning meadows to create additional attractive bison habitat;
• Monitoring the herd by maintaining satellite linked GPS collars on at least 10% of the animals;
• Responding quickly to reports of bison excursions from the reintroduction zone, and using herding, gentle hazing and baiting techniques to bring them back.

What kind of fencing will you use?

How can you be sure that reintroduced bison are healthy?

• Only healthy bison were released into Banff National Park. The animals were chosen from Elk Island National Park, a brucellosis and tuberculosis-free area for more than 40 years.
• Careful health monitoring of the herd and immediate follow-up of any symptoms by a wildlife health specialist.
• Minimizing interaction with neighbouring livestock by encouraging bison to remain within the reintroduction zone.
• In the unlikely event that disease is detected, acting quickly to prevent further risks to bison or any other species. This response may include additional disease testing, monitoring, quarantine, and if necessary, culling the herd.

What should people do if they encounter a free-roaming bison?

It is important to note that bison may be encountered within or beyond the reintroduction zone at any time.

If you encounter free-roaming bison:

• Maintain a safe distance of 100 metres from bison when traveling by foot or by horseback.
• Use binoculars or a telephoto lens to get a closer look.
• If you encounter bison, do not approach. Choose an alternate route. Watch their movements and give them space (100 metres).
• If a bison approaches you, remain calm and do not run. Back away slowly and try to maintain a physical barrier, such as a tree, between you and the animal.
• Be especially wary of female bison with young calves (spring) and male bison during rutting season (July/August).
• Dogs must be on leash and under control at all times. • Respect all warnings, area closures, and travel restrictions.

If you encounter an aggressive bison, please notify Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470 when safe to do so.