PRESERVING BISON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 53, 20 July 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

PRESERVING BISON.

1000 IN CANADIAN PARK. There are now 990 "bison in the national presence at Wainwright, Alberta Canada, and the number is increasing rapidly. Last year 170 calves were born in the herd, and it is expected that this year the natural increase will be about | 250. Mr. Ellis, who 'has charge of the park at Wainwright, lias stated that it is not probable that many more of the animals will be brought up from the Flathead Range in Montana. There maybe 9 0 or 30 brought up this summer, but it' is not likely that the men who are engaged in rounding up the herd will be successful in catching more than this number. ~ . ; Mr Ellis states that a profitable m- , dustry might be evolved from the bison farm because of the value of the heads., and hides. The old cows and bulls might lie killed oil' each year for their hides. The cost nf feeding the animals is very small During the summer they aie out on the range, and even in the winter they are able to graze and obtain sufficient nourishment to keep them in good condition. This winter only 0 tons o hay have been required. This Hay is ~,-own on the farm in connection with 11, range, »4 1»» °<'2 ■was put up hist year, so that 600 tons will be carried over this year. The range is 100,000 acres in extent, and the bison roam this tract during it summer, but in the winter they co fined to the winter quarters which are about 12 square miles in extent. i _ animals browse on this tract, and ie feed is carried out to them on hay racks Mr Ellis savs that some of the cows are becoming very fierce, and it will be necessary to shoot them, in all probability They have charged the herders severa times and there'have been a number of narrow escapes. None of the animal have charged the teams on he hay raek aß yet, it « leaded do so some day. mi. >'« i , seem 'to be much more quiet than tli. cows, as they have not given any tiouble aS T h t'o is a large herd of bison in the country north of Fort Clupewyan, and it is probable that some of these ammals ill be brought down to Wainwright to put new blood into the 'nerd there.