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{animal spotlight} American Bison Bison bison {by Kelly Lessard, public relations manager} The Minnesota Zoo recently joined with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in an effort to conserve the North American plains bison. Beginning this fall, the Zoo will work with the DNR to cooperatively manage a genetically pure bison herd at Minnesota state parks and at the Zoo. A herd of 100+ bison currently resides at Blue Mounds State Park in southwestern Minnesota, a project that started in 1961 with three bison from Nebraska. BACKGROUND AND PROJECT During the recovery of this species from near extinction in the early 1900s, cattle interbred with bison in many locations. Recent scientific advances estimate that less than one percent of the world’s remaining American bison are free of cattle hybridization – posing a serious threat to the long-term conservation of pure wild bison across the nation. The new effort will help protect the genetic diversity of this native Minnesota species and educate Minnesotans about the bison’s conservation story and the important roles bison (and other large herbivores) play in our prairie ecosystem. Says Minnesota Zoo Director/CEO Lee Ehmke: “American bison were the first wildlife species that zoos actively worked to help save, with a small herd originating from the Bronx Zoo being returned to the wild in 1907 to help restore the species in the Western Plains. A strategic priority of the Minnesota Zoo is to increase awareness and to actively participate in the restoration of the prairie ecosystems that once occupied vast areas of Minnesota. Helping to expand the population and range of a keystone species like the bison, in collaboration with our colleagues at the DNR, is exactly the sort of conservation action our Zoo is committed to engage in.” page 8 {Fall 2012} zootracksonline {SIDEBAR} Courtland Nelson, director, DNR Division of Parks and Trails adds: “We are very excited to be able to work with Minnesota Zoo staff to help preserve and expand the number of plains bison in Minnesota being managed for species conservation and ecological restoration.” ABOUT BISON Massive and thick-coated, bison—the largest land animals in North America—were once the icons of North America’s Great Plains. They were most abundant, with an estimated 30 to 60 million animals, before European settlement. Bison were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s, with populations down to less than 1,000 before protective measures were put into place. Currently, there are approximately 19,000 total plains bison in 54 conservation herds (herds managed in the public interest by governments and environmental organizations) and 500,000 in commercial herds. The species is considered nearthreatened and conservation-dependent. BISON FUN FACTS PBison grunt periodically to communicate and keep contact with the rest of the herd. They bellow aggressively when challenging another animal. PIn winter, bison clear snow from their grazing area by sweeping their massive heads from side to side. PThe bison’s hump is a set of powerful muscles that hold up and control the movement of its 50 to 75-pound head. Learn more about bison here. Minnesota Zoo Brings Prairie to Life! {by Sarah Braman, horticulture department} Prairie is the most endangered habitat in North America and is an important part of Minnesota’s cultural heritage. With support from Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment, the Minnesota Zoo is currently installing a dry-upland prairie demonstration. This effort is part of the Zoo’s conservation initiative to inspire people to learn, care and act on behalf of wildlife and wild places. The prairie demonstration area will offer educational opportunities for Zoo guests and provide habitat for a diverse set of native butterflies, bees, and other insects. Over ten native grass species and 30 native flowers will paint a diverse and colorful landscape where prairie ecology, conservation and education messages can reach new audiences. The project will also provide opportunities for “citizen science.” Students, staff, and volunteers will monitor the impact of removing one native plant species (Asclepias tuberosa (L.)) from a section of prairie and observe that effect on butterfly populations and plant community development. This prairie landscape offers a unique opportunity to survey and record the influence of ecological changes on native insect and plant communities in an urban environment. zootracksonline {Fall 2012} page 9