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BISON MANAGEMENT PLAN RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK 2014 Executive Summary An ecosystem management plan is defined as an approach used to maintain or restore the composition, structure, and function of natural and modified ecosystems for long-term sustainability.1 These plans are based on a collaboratively developed vision of desired future conditions that integrates ecological, socioeconomic, and institutional perspectives applied within a geographic framework defined by natural ecological boundaries.1 This ecosystem management plan has been prepared for Riding Mountain National Park with the long-term vision of continued and adaptive conservation of their captive Manitoba Plains bison herd. The three central goals outlined within the following report address conservation initiatives of the Riding Mountain bison herd with respect to an expanded enclosure, improvement of the grassland ecosystems within the park, and strategically enhancing public attraction to the park using the bison herd. Parks Canada largely values the opportunity to bring Canadians and visitors together in celebrating our country’s ecological diversity and cultural heritage. In this regard, public engagement is fundamental to the development of the Bison Management Plan. In addition, it is critical to bring all other relevant stakeholders to the table in devising management strategies for the Riding Mountain bison herd in order to facilitate discussion and development of common goals. Partnership, cooperation, and collaboration from all parties involved in the management process are essential for the success of the plan and consequentially to the achievement of effective bison conservation. It is recognized that in conjunction with socioeconomic perspectives, the integration of sciencebased, objective management is critical to the success of any ecosystem management plan. For this reason, this Bison Management Plan has been produced in a manner that utilizes the available science and literature to best guide management practices. A holistic, scientific approach to bison conservation creates opportunity and promotes for the continual usage of testing, researching, and monitoring to adaptively refine management. As we strive to realize the highest level of conservation achievement – bison conservation herd with ecological restoration – over the long-term, we have constructed a framework to gradually realize three fundamental principles of herd management:2 I. Maintain the wild characteristics of bison while avoiding domestication. II. Conserve the genetic diversity and genetic integrity of bison. III. Restore and maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Throughout all stages of bison management and plan implementation, we are committed to the highest level of humane, ethical treatment of all organisms that may be affected by our efforts. We also 2 recognize that laying out an ecosystem management plan as defined above requires acceptance of uncertainty, recognition of the world’s dynamic nature, and the ability to flexibly make decisions without complete information and under conflicting pressures.1 As such, our management plan seeks improvement, not perfection, in integrating ecological, social and economic values to promote action and make change. On behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations. – Parks Canada’s Mandate Canada’s treasured natural and historic places will be a living legacy, connecting hearts and minds to a stronger, deeper understanding of the very essence of Canada. – Parks Canada’s Vision 3 Table of Contents Executive Summary……………………………………………………………......................................... 2 1.0 Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 History of Riding Mountain National Park…………………………………………………... 6 2.0 Geographic Area.................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Region….………..................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Grasslands and the Current Bison Enclosure………………………………………………... 8 2.3 Area of Expansion………………………………………….................................................... 10 3.0 Overriding Goals of the Bison Management Plan............................................................................... 14 4.0 Stakeholders………............................................................................................................................ 16 4.1 Stakeholder Engagement…………………………………………………………………….. 16 4.2 Primary Stakeholders............................................................................................................... 16 4.3 Secondary Stakeholders........................................................................................................... 17 4.4 Managing Stakeholders……………………………………………………………………… 18 5.0 Conservation of Plains Bison with an Expanded Enclosure............................................................... 20 5.1 Conservation Herd Requirements………………………………………………………........ 20 5.2 Benefits from Enclosure Expansion…………………………………………………………. 21 5.3 Potential Implications of Fencing on other Wildlife……………………….………………... 22 5.4 Managing Disease……………………………………………................................................ 23 6.0 Improving the Ecological Integrity of Grasslands………………….……………............................. 26 6.1 Importance of Bison as an Ecosystem Engineer………………….………............................. 26 6.2 Measuring Success………………………............................................................................... 27 7.0 Increasing Public Visitation and Interest to the Park via Enclosure Expansion.................................. 28 7.1 Education and Awareness………………………….…………………………………….….. 28 7.2 Improving Existing Visitor Services……………………………..………..…….................... 29 7.3 Bison Cams…………….………………………………….………………………………… 29 7.4 Trails……………………..……………………………………………….............................. 30 7.5 Bison Buggy Tours……………........................................................ ..................................... 30 7.6 Measuring Success…………………………………………………………………………... 31 8.0 Implementation and Phasing............................................................................................................... 32 9.0 Funding……………………………………………………………………………………………… 34 4 10.0 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………................... 35 11.0 Works Cited…………………………………………………………………..................................... 36 12.0 Figure References…………………………………………………………………............................ 39 5 1.0 Introduction Management plans are the cornerstone of Parks Canada’s commitments to the future. This is the first management plan for the Riding Mountain National Park bison herd. This management plan provides longterm strategic direction for the management of the species and habitat for the next 20 years. Parks Canada is committed to ecological integrity, communicating with and engaging Canadians, and providing opportunities for visitor experiences in ways that integrate ecological, social, and economic values, and honors First Nations stewardship. 1.1 History of Riding Mountain National Park Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) was established on May 30th, 1930 to protect the diverse ecosystems in the area: grasslands, wetlands, boreal forest, and deciduous forest.3 It is known as “an island of wilderness surrounded by a sea of farmland.”3 When parliament established RMNP in 1930 without consulting the Keeseekoowenini Ojibway First Nation Reserve, which fell within the boundaries of the park, relationships soured and became contentious.4 In the 1990s the Keeseekoowenini First Nation challenged their land claim and a settlement was reached in 2004 establishing the Ojibway people as stewards of the area, and Parks Canada to be bound by this stewardship.4 Plains bison (Bison bison bison) are the largest land mammals in North America. The Canadian range of the plains bison once extended across the entire prairies and included grasslands, meadows, scrublands, and certain wooded areas that provided shelter from weather and predators.5 Prior to the arrival of settlers in the 1880s, more than 10 million Plains bison roamed the Canadian prairies.6 During this period, bison served as both ecological and cultural keystone species. Bison had a disproportionate influence on ecological processes and biodiversity in the socioecological systems they occupied. Bison were also a critical resource to First Nations for material and spiritual culture.5 It is estimated that by 1888 only eight bison remained in Canada and 85 in North America. The reduction in the number of bison resulted in the loss of native grasslands.6 Currently, there are approximately 700,000 Plains bison in North America and more than 95% of these bison are being farmed for commercial purposes.5 In Manitoba, bison are found sporadically in semi-wild or captive herds and the RMNP bison herd was established by obtaining descendants of Elk Island National Parks Plains Bison conservation herd.7 The strong cultural and spiritual relationship between bison and First Nations still continues today. This is one motivating factor in our efforts to promote the natural health and long-term viability of Riding Mountain National Park’s bison herd. We wish to expand the home range in RMNP to foster natural bison behavior and to return the habitat to its original state. Cooperative management with the Keeseekoowenini 6 Ojibway First Nation will help us to meet our goals while also preserving/re-establishing the cultural and spiritual relationship between bison and First Nations in the area. Managing the Plains bison herd at RMNP will provide opportunities for enhancing and increasing visitor experience and education, and re-establish the ecological role bison play on the landscape. The Parks are hereby dedicated to the people of Canada for their benefit, education and enjoyment...and shall be maintained and made use of so as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of the future generations. – National Parks Act, 1930 Bison by Keith Ewing. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/kewing/9495713485. 7 2.0 Geographic Area 2.1 Region Riding Mountain National Park lies within the greater ecosystem of the Riding Mountain region in the southwestern corner of Manitoba, Canada. Tightly surrounding the core protected area that is the park is the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve which consists of 15 rural municipalities that capture approximately 12,000 square kilometres of land area.8 The Biosphere Reserve is designated as a region of ecosystems promoting solutions to balance the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.4 Because Riding Mountain National Park is a relatively small component of a much greater and complex ecosystem, it depends on the processes of the surrounding landscape to maintain its ecological integrity.4 The park itself covers a total area of 2,969 square kilometres and is characterized by a diverse range of habitats including boreal forest, mixed-grass and fescue prairies, aspen parkland, and deciduous forests.4 A large number of wildlife species such as white-tailed deer, elk, moose, black bear, wolf, and cougar reside within and frequently cross the park’s manmade boundaries,.4 The Riding Mountain region, depicted in Figure 1, has been progressively shaped by geological processes including sedimentation, continental glaciation, and water erosion to create a landscape distinct from the surrounding area.4 The landscape is influenced by a continental climate characteristic of the Canadian prairies. Generally, the region experiences warm summers and cold winters, but climatic conditions can vary within the park.4 Annual rainfall in the park is between 40.6-50.8 cm, and the mean winter snowfall ranges between 25.4 and 127.0 cm depending on elevation.4 The Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, situated in the Hudson Bay drainage system, is characterized by a variety of soil types that differ in their drainage and texture: for example, underneath the mixed-grass and rough-fescue prairies lies rich Chernozemic soil.4 2.2 Grasslands and the Current Bison Enclosure The RMNP bison enclosure (see Figure 2) located on the eastern edge of Lake Audy encompasses rough-fescue grassland that occurs as prairie openings within groves of aspen parkland. This rough-fescue grassland, named for the dominant native species present, is the most intact, diverse prairie within the boundary of Riding Mountain National Park. According to Cornelsen (2013) about 40 km2 of the park is currently classified as grassland; however, historical records indicate grasslands were significantly more common in the Riding Mountain area than they are presently.9 Discrepancies in mapping and continual change in environmental conditions have made it difficult to categorize the extent of grasslands in the park 8 Figure 1: The Riding Mountain region. Adapted from Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (p. 8), 2007. 9 over time. Despite this, it is estimated that there is 87-95% less grassland in RMNP than what may have existed 75 years ago.9 With this being said the present bison herd of approximately 66 animals makes its home on an increasingly rare example of real prairie. Within the fence, the area of which this ecosystem management plan is primarily concerned, the bison have access to the small water body of Hyde Lake and patches of forested spaces for shelter. Figure 2: The current bison enclosure and the Lake Audy area. Adapted from Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (p. 35), 2007. 2.3 Area of Expansion This bison management plan primarily focuses on an expansion of the current Riding Mountain bison enclosure into areas of traditional bison habitat. The proposed adjustment of the enclosure involves extension of the bison range into adjacent grasslands, meadows, and aspen forests including, if possible and/or applicable, habitat that was historically suitable for bison but has since undergone change over time (e.g. grasslands that are subject to aspen encroachment). Specifically, initial phases of expansion will be concentrated in the unmaintained backcountry of Grasshopper Valley, located on the west side of Lake Audy. As shown in Figure 3, the extent of grasslands in Grasshopper Valley has declined significantly due to 10 the encroachment of woody plant species. In extending grassland habitat to achieve our two objectives of a larger bison enclosure and improved grassland ecosystems, use of prescribed fire and other management techniques supported by scientific studies will be implemented. We propose that these techniques will prevent further forest encroachment, increase prairie diversity, and help reinstate “lost” fragments of grasslands, chiefly in the Grasshopper Valley. Consequently, more habitat would be allocated to the RMNP bison herd for benefiting their conservation, just as the beneficial effects of the animals may in turn contribute to the health of the targeted grassland areas. Figure 3: Grassland loss in Grasshopper Valley by woody plants from 1956 to 1996. Adapted from Trembling Aspen Invasion of the Plains Rough Fescue Grasslands. Contract Report for Parks Canada, 2007. Important to the extent of enclosure expansion is consideration of the recommended minimum levels for herd and range size. Both herd size and total area of rangeland must meet certain requirements for a bison herd to qualify as a conservation herd. According to guidelines set out for herd managers by the World Wildlife Fund, the minimum size of a bison enclosure to generate a moderate contribution to the bison’s role in an ecosystem is 5,000 acres, or approximately 20 km2 of rangeland. This enclosure size reflects the minimum range size appropriate for replicating the natural movement patterns and benefits of bison on the landscape.2 In addition, the World Wildlife Fund has proposed a minimum effective population size of 500 breeding individuals. The characteristics and requirements of a conservation herd will be discussed further in section 6.0 of this report. In working towards the recommendations set out in the guidelines, the preliminary expansion outlined in this Bison Management Plan is to encompass a total area of at least four times the present pasture size of 5.2 square kilometres. The general area of interest for expansion is shown in Figure 4. Finalization of the exact enclosure size and shape will require consultation with environmental experts in classifying the useable extent of the Grasshopper Valley and other nearby areas for the purpose of sustaining a bison herd. 11 The use of area walkthroughs, GIS technology, and collaboration with conservation professionals and accredited groups will be carefully implemented to designate where fencing should occur on the land. Using technology and working with specialists to analyze the environmental features of the area will allow us to enclose the maximum amount of potential habitat, target encroached/transformed grassland areas, and ensure conditions for fencing are acceptable. Based on research of the land to be fenced, a decision on the stocking rate will be made so as not to exceed the range’s carrying capacity; monitoring of the effect of population size on the habitat will be conducted to ensure this is avoided. 12 A) Grasshopper Valley B) Figure 4: A) The boundaries of the current RMNP bison enclosure. B) A general idea of the proposed enclosure expansion. The red boundaries represent a rough estimate of reused fencing from the present enclosure and the blue boundaries represent a rough estimate of the amount of new fencing required. Adapted from Google Maps, 2014. 13 3.0 Overriding Goals of the Bison Management Plan The Bison Management Plan has devised three overriding goals. This management plan will be evaluated yearly, producing a progress report in which objectives will be reflected upon and appropriate adjustments will be made. This ecosystem management plan is a phase sensitive plan, in which actions to produce a viable management framework that allows Plains bison to function sustainably within the dimensions of the enclosure are implemented and adapted over time. Creating a bison conservation herd, restoring prairie grasslands, and increasing park visitation while providing an authentic and safe Manitoba park experience are the desired outcomes of this expansion. The three overriding goals are: 1. Continued conservation of the Manitoba Plains bison population in Riding Mountain National Park. This management plan is a stepping stone in the larger picture of long-term conservation of a Plains bison population within Manitoba. It is a preliminary step towards creating a conservation herd in Riding Mountain National park by facilitating a broader home range that will satisfy conservation herd requirements. Key actions: Evaluation of ecosystem to determine suitable bison habitat Consistent monitoring of disease levels within the population A) Maintain conservation herd requirements through minimal contact management and random selection culling Work with First Nations and surrounding municipalities, land owners, and farmers to collaborate in joint-protection of bison habitat The use of recycled materials and natural physical barriers in expansion design (i.e. harvested trees used for fencing and bodies of water) will be utilized in an attempt to reduce cost 2. Improving the ecological integrity of the grasslands in Riding Mountain National Park. Expanding the bison enclosure will increase the area of grasslands that will endure a natural disturbance regime, thus enabling the grasslands in the area to flourish. We will measure ecological integrity via the following indicators: invasive species in grasslands within the enclosure at no higher than 25%, the presence of wallows, landscape heterogeneity, and the existence of various bird species and small mammals. B) 14 Key actions: Conducting research of historical data to formulate a picture of a historical landscape Land assessment to determine the vital boundary cut off in which the grasslands will be exposed to the Plains bison Inducing controlled burns to maintain a natural disturbance cycle and foster a variation of succession stages on the landscape Reduce the existence of invasive species to 25% of the grasslands Ongoing comparative studies and monitoring to establish the differences on the grasslands as a result of the presence of Plains bison 3. Increase park visitation and public interest in Riding Mountain National Park. Increasing public attraction to the park via the enclosure expansion is a matter of including the public in current planning of the project, encouraging participation, and invigorating a sense of curiosity to Riding Mountain National Park’s natural grassland ecosystem. However, with increased visitation to viewing Plains bison also increases the risk of human/bison conflict. As part of the goal to increase public attraction to RMNP to view bison, we accept this potential conflict as a central responsibility and top priority in management. Ultimately, human safety is the most important aspect upon increasing visitation. Key actions: Increase public visitation to RMNP by 2.5 % in the first five years of the ecosystem management plan Work closely with stakeholders to reduce human/bison conflict and develop effective strategies to ensure satisfactory visitor experience and engagement Introduce Bison Days to educate the public on the bison’s ecological role in grasslands as well as bison safety and visitation etiquette through interactive activities Install Bison Cams in the enclosure to provide live online feeds of bison activity Create innovative bison viewing opportunities in addition to the enhancement of existing visitor services Conduct ongoing research and surveys on park visitation to work towards creating the best visitor experience 15 4.0 Stakeholders 4.1 Stakeholder Engagement Effective conservation requires understanding how people relate to one another and how they relate to the land.1 Parks Canada will work intensively with the provincial and federal government, key stakeholders, and First Nations to fully understand issues and work to address concerns and common interests. The purpose of consultation is to maximize the efficiency of the Bison Management Plan. Consultation will be held to acquire substantive input from stakeholders at the early stages of decision making. Cooperative Management will be appointed to stakeholders who share mutual goals in order to ensure this project is carried out in an efficient manner. Part of this will entail addressing stakeholders concerns and modifying plans identified and constantly following up and monitoring the project development. Support for the project will be enhanced by having the following mandate, improved educational opportunities, and enhancing the visitor experience at RMNP, while preserving the integrity of this keystone species, and restoring the natural habitat of the area. 4.2 Primary Stakeholders Parks Canada: Parks Canada is the responsible party in park management at RMNP. They are the key leaders in planning, implementation, and monitoring of this project and the lead responsible to initiate and engage in stakeholder consultation. Parks Canada will also play a critical role for funding this management plan. First Nations: The involvement of First Nations (particularly Keeseekoowenin Ojibway) in decision-making and sharing of traditional knowledge enhances the understanding, protection, and management of bison. Their knowledge will ensure the development of strategies to improve the visitor experience and education of this keystone species. This knowledge of bison’s profound role in the ecosystem as a key grazer will be an asset with determining effective ways of managing ecological restoration. Province of Manitoba: Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship plays a critical role in monitoring wildlife disease in the park along with Parks Canada and areas adjacent to the park, particularly the Biosphere Reserve with the surveillance, prevention, research, and control of bovine tuberculosis. Manitoba Conservation will play a critical role with the decision making process to ensure proactive measures are being taken to minimize risk of exposure to the disease and to monitor bison throughout the expansion to prevent disease transmission. 16 Canadian Wildlife Federation: The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) will provide critical knowledge to ensure that Plains bison populations and their habitats are conserved in a sustainable manner. CWF will also play a critical role in potential funding for this management plan. Scientific Community: The involvement of professionals in designated fields such as GIS will help ensure our area is suitable habitat for the bison species by evaluating biotic and abiotic factors of the area. 4.3 Secondary Stakeholders Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve: The surrounding communities of Riding Mountain National Park are a part of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve (RMBR). RMBR has a Zone of Cooperation of 12,000 square kilometers, which includes 15 municipalities and 4 First Nations. These municipalities play a crucial role in enabling experts and officials to access their knowledge in the area, including how to restore and maintain a resilient and historical ecosystem and a suitable bison habitat. This ensures long term viability of the bison enclosure expansion. The Keeseekoowenin Ojibway, Rolling River, Tootinaowaziibeeng, and Waywayseecappo First Nations Travel Manitoba: Travel Manitoba is a provincial marketing organization for the province of Manitoba. Travel Manitoba and Parks Canada have maintained a successful marketing relationship since 2005 in an effort to enhance Manitoba tourism by attracting Canadians and visitors to local heritage sites and natural protected areas, including RMNP. By actively involving Travel Manitoba in our ecosystem management plan, we can effectively promote the importance of bison as a natural keystone species in prairie grasslands to the public. Bovine Tuberculosis Stakeholder Advisory Committee: The Bovine Tuberculosis Advisory Committee (TbSAC) was set up by Parks Canada in response to stakeholder concerns with Tb in the area of Riding Mountain National Park. This committee will assist in understanding and acknowledging the safety of our ecosystem management plan in relation to the disease. The advisory committee will support our decisions to move forward with the plan in a safe manner, and be there to identify potential risk and concerns that may arise in addition to suggesting solutions. 17 Friends of Riding Mountain National Park: Friends of Riding Mountain National Park is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization devoted to the education and awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of RMNP. Wildlife Habitat Canada: Wildlife Habitat Canada works to conserve, restore and enhance wildlife habitat in Canada and provides funding for conservation projects. Grants are available to support conservation projects in Canada. Explore: Explore is a multimedia organization that has worked with Parks Canada on past projects by providing the public with live camera feeds of wildlife. Parks Canada is looking into partnership with Explore in RMNP. Public: To move forward with the bison enclosure expansion, it is important the public is invested in our goals. If the public can see the benefit to the bison by improving their well-being, preserving the ecological integrity of Manitoba prairie, improving educational opportunities, and enhancing the RMNP experience, then they will be supportive of our expansion. 4.4 Managing Stakeholders Consultation will be approached primarily with a facilitated round table with representation from key stakeholders. Stakeholders will be encouraged to bring concerns to the forefront and these issues will be addressed and framed for further deliberation. This strategy will enable the management team to determine which stakeholders support the project and how to utilize that support in planning. It will also identify stakeholders against the plan and what can be done to manage that opposing view. Workshops will be developed with specific stakeholders to achieve particular objectives and goals, such as visitor experience and funding. The round table will acknowledge obstacles, find solutions, instill trust, and build long-term relationships. For example, one potential concern of the public may include reduced bison sightings and accessibility to the area. To address this concern, Parks Canada will develop a link on their website accessible by the public with information about local events such as educational workshops on the history of bison, how the habitat will be restored to its natural state, the spiritual relationship between First Nations and the bison, the improved RMNP experience, and the overall benefits of the expansion. Also to manage the public and stakeholders, open houses will be held to promote and to provide current and relative information. These are some of the strategies to demonstrate openness, transparency, and trust in the expansion project and create public and stakeholder support. There will be continued consultation throughout all phases of 18 planning and implementation and constant monitoring to ensure goals are being met. Communication, consultation, and involvement of all stakeholders and the public will be the key to this management plan. Buffalo Play by Julie Falk. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/piper/7721001224. 19 5.0 Conservation of Plains Bison with an Expanded Enclosure 5.1 Conservation Herd Requirements As previously discussed, there are three principles of establishing a conservation herd, each with specific guidelines to achieve: I. Maintain the wild characteristics of bison while avoiding domestication. In order to ensure that the bison remain wild, RMNP has a minimal contact management approach, so the bison do not become domesticated as a result of management. Bison will also interact with other bison and their habitat; a mix and of age classes and sexes will be maintained and a general range size will be maintained. II. Conserve the genetic diversity and genetic integrity of bison. Genetic diversity and integrity is important to the long-term success of a bison herd. Recognizing this, RMNP will utilize a random selection model that ensures the random culling of bison that does not select for any one specific trait (e.g. colour, size). Breeding competition is observed in the current herd and will be maintained when the enclosure is expanded. This allows for competition between bulls to mate with females. The current sex ratio of the herd is approximately 50:50, which most closely mimics the sex ratio in the wild and allows for appropriate breeding competition. The suggested effective population size is approximately 500 breeding individuals, which does not include the calves. This population size is the final, long-term objective; RMNP recognizes that this herd size cannot be achieved at once therefore a subsequent management plan will be drafted to further increase the herd size. Until this final size is achieved, RMNP will manage the smaller herd to act as a “metapopulation” which exchanges breeding bison with other herds in order to increase genetic variation. However, before the bison can be traded, RMNP must ensure that there is no risk of disease within the herd. Cattle-bison hybridization in the past has resulted in genetic introgression; the consequence of this is that select bison today have cattle genes, which threatens their genetic integrity. Gene introgression will be managed within the herd to ensure that the genetic integrity is not compromised. III. Restore and maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Habitat structural diversity will be preserved by ensuring the riparian areas in the enclosure are healthy, plant and animal species 20 diversity will be maintained, and the bison will be free to create wallows throughout the landscape. Grazing will be minimally managed to allow for natural grazing and migration patterns. Grassland birds and plant species are currently monitored in RMNP, though not actively managed. In accordance with these guidelines, management plans will be put in place after the effective population size is reached to ensure the entire ecosystem functions as it would historically. Bison will continue to interact with the ecosystem within the enclosure in a way that does not exclude other wildlife; the fencing will be chosen with this parameter in mind. These guidelines were laid out by Lammers et al. in 2013 and will be followed closely to achieve a conservation herd after expansion. In terms of measuring success, it is expected that with the presence of humans around the bison and the removal and addition of fences in their surroundings, the animals will be put under stress. Our objective of effective Plains bison conservation with an expanded enclosure will be considered successful when the bison are functioning naturally, free of supplement feeding, and exhibiting natural behaviours, such as wallowing and migration. 5.2 Benefits from Enclosure Expansion The current bison enclosure has a capacity of approximately 30 – 40 bison, but holds 66 bison. Overpopulation of any species occurs when a population exceeds the carrying capacity of a given area. This capacity is difficult to define as it varies temporally with the habitat type and region. Overpopulation can lead to an increased risk of disease outbreaks, overgrazing, and put social stresses on the bison. In the wild, overpopulation is often solved by an increase in the population of predators, which preferentially prey on the old or sick. This process of natural selection addresses the problem of overpopulation by ensuring that only the fittest contribute to the gene pool. This solution cannot be applied to the bison at RMNP as the natural predators of Plains bison are wolves, which preferentially hunt elk and white-tailed deer in the park due to their availability and ease of hunting. Instead, bison will be culled to emulate predation in the wild. The First Nations will be consulted when culling takes place to discuss appropriate methods, as they are an important stakeholder. RMNP recognizes that random culling cannot replace predation on bison therefore culling alone cannot address the problem of overpopulation. By increasing the area of the enclosure, the risks associated with overpopulation can be alleviated. An increase in area, and therefore in bison numbers, will increase the gene pool of the population and decrease the likelihood of inbreeding.2 This is especially important in disease outbreak prevention. If a disease outbreak occurs in the current overpopulated enclosure, there is a higher risk that the entire herd will 21 be affected and mortality rates may be very high. With a higher genetic diversity, the chance for survival will increase, and this goes toward meeting the second principle in establishing a conservation herd. Bison are migratory mammals and roam hundreds of kilometres over their lifetimes.10 They migrate in search of better forage and choose their habitat based on nutritional needs, availability of forage, and their ability to avoid predators in a given habitat. The expansion will facilitate this natural behaviour without the aid of herding. RMNP would like to limit the supplement feeding, eventually phasing it out entirely when the bison are self-sufficient. In the spring, the bison will lightly graze an area of the enclosure, which will then be fenced off to prevent continued grazing. In the winter, the bison will be led to this portion to graze. Bison metabolism slows down in winter therefore grazing rates drop and their nutritional requirements adjust to match what is available.11 The eventual removal of supplement feeding will create a natural stress on the herd during winter as in the wild; this will naturally select for bison who most efficiently utilize the available resources. The winter grazing grounds will be the only grazing in which RMNP will intervene; the rest of their grazing will be unmanaged, in accordance with the third principle of conservation herd management. Bison are social mammals that will live in a herd for most of their life. However, after breeding season ends every year, bulls tend to separate themselves from the herd.12 Social strains resulting from overpopulation and crowding are not observed in the current enclosure, though with the increase in bison individuals required to establish a conservation herd, this is not guaranteed. 5.3 Potential Implications of Fencing on other Wildlife Much focus of this project has been centered on matters related to the conservation of the RMNP bison herd with a larger fenced range. However, it is critical to address potential impacts of fencing on other species. For all future construction, modern bison-proof/wildlife-permeable fences that limit bison movement while facilitating the ability of other animals to move freely will be selected for this project (see Figure 5). Specifically, low-level fences with high heights to the bottom wire and wide spaces between wires will be used to reduce hazards and minimize negative effects on wildlife. One of the most significant problems of some fence designs is the entanglement of big game. For a number of species, such fences can also fragment home ranges, reduce/eliminate access to forage, cover, and water, and separate young animals from their mothers.13 In order to reduce the possibility of the park’s newborn moose, elk, and deer being separated from their mothers, the bottom wire of the bison fence will be set at approximately 20 inches above the ground. Spacing of 10 to 12 inches between wires will allow for the movement of juvenile moose, elk, and deer, while adults of these three species will be likely to jump the fences given that the top wire is approximately 60 inches high.13 Applying these parameters to existing and 22 new fencing may significantly reduce the division of home ranges, allow access to resources, and facilitate movement of most species at each stage of their life cycle without increasing the risk of bison escaping. To better accommodate wildlife and decrease expenses, the fences will be erected using smooth strand wires instead of barbed wire.13 To further decrease costs and to prevent visitor conflicts that may transpire if people come in contact with the wire fencing, the additional security of electrified wires will not be employed unless absolutely necessary. As the current bison herd does not typically challenge the boundaries of their enclosure and are quite content in their range, electric wires should not be needed unless behaviour changes over time.12 The potential ecological impact of fencing on wildlife will be researched and monitored to resolve any negative effects that may arise. One method that can be used to gauge the impact of bison-proof fencing on other wildlife is remote camera traps. This technology allows the capture of photographs and video recordings to monitor wildlife passage under or over the fencing so as to ensure the movement of animals is not hindered.14 In addition to the movement of elk, white-tailed deer, and moose, the movement of black bears, wolves, and other animals will also be regularly monitored. Where wildlife movement is observed to be impeded by the fencing, crossing structures built into the fence may be a possible solution.14 Figure 5: Example of a wildlife-permeable fence design for effectively containing bison. Adapted from Gates, C. Cormack. Fencing Guidelines for Bison on Alberta Public Lands with Wildlife and Access in Mind (p. 4), 2006. 5.4 Managing Disease For several years Riding Mountain National Park has recognized the top issue with managing Plains bison is the threat of diseases in and around the park. It is also the greatest single limiting factor of the bison 23 enclosure’s range potential. The disease of principle concern to the bison in RMNP is bovine tuberculosis. Bovine Tb is a contagious and communicable disease which is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium bovis). This disease affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats, and other species, including humans. Wildlife does not observe the artificial boundaries of RMNP, therefore areas surrounding the park are subjected to the transmission of diseases. Bovine tuberculosis is transmitted via ingestion from contaminated food and water or from inhalation of contaminated air-borne dust particles.15 Elk and cattle for example can contract the disease when infected body-excreted wastes such as, urine, manure, or salvia is transferred from one animal to another directly or indirectly, which can then be transmitted to bison.16 It was found that the major source of transmission was flocculating at hay bales left out for extended periods of time. These round hay bales then can become contaminated when an animal infected with bovine Tb is feeding there. Wildlife such as elk and deer later feed on the infected hay, enhancing secondary disease transmission to then occur.16 Additional forms of the risk of disease spread include supplemental feeding and illegal deer and elk baiting sites.16 Bovine Tb results in reduced fertility, weakness, and/or death in an animal.15 A multi-agency task group was established in 2000 to coordinate a program to eliminate bovine Tb. The program for managing wildlife diseases was named the Bovine Tuberculosis Stakeholder Advisory Committee (TbSAC). The program involved monitoring zones on the west side of the province and also just outside RMNP. Through their great joint efforts throughout the years, in 2007 bovine Tb in cattle was declared eradicated throughout Canada.17 In 2008 there were approximately six positive bovine Tb cases in RMNP, but with better understanding and implementing strategies through the years the management is being controlled.18 Bovine Tb is currently prevalent although the risk posed for bison from the disease is moderately low. Although the prevalence of bovine Tb is low in various ungulates, the expanded enclosure ecosystem management plan has prepared plans for the minimal potential of bovine Tb spread on the bison herd. These plans include: Maintaining a bovine Tb-free status in domestic cattle around the park Routine tests conducted on live bison to ensure healthy animals without the symptoms of disease present Properly testing deceased bison for disease and health risks before meat and other parts of bison are distributed Minimizing wildlife and livestock relations in order to reduce transmission of disease on agricultural land 24 o Minimize access of deer and elk to stored forage by taking bales out of the field near the end of summer o Continued barrier fences around hay storage sites Consult with the Task Group (TbSAC) and other stakeholders for inputs and suggestions from past national parks strategies to manage disease Organized plans set out with the federal and provincial governments who have the expertise, specialized skills, and equipment to contain and control the disease18 RMNP will continue to have meetings and work with neighbouring farmers, hunters, and organizations to continue management of the spread of disease around the park. It is therefore imperative that the health status of the bison is free of disease and maintained to reach an approved conservation herd. Testing to date has not revealed any signs of bovine Tb presence within the bison herd. Therefore to measure success of the increased enclosure, for the first five years, there will be a percentage of the herd blood tested every six months to ensure no positive signs of bovine Tb. If bison remain free from disease for the complete five year duration, then the following five years testing will continue but on a lower scale. Once a year, bison will now be tested for any signs of disease. Further maintenance of the strict testing process until ten years of disease-free bison are proven and recorded, the increased enclosure has reached success. American Bison (Bison bison) by Dan Dzurisin. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ndomer73/2946319058. 25 6.0 Improving the Ecological Integrity of Grasslands 6.1 Importance of Bison as an Ecosystem Engineer Maintenance of the bison enclosure and the habitats within is important to restoring the original biodiversity that was lost in the past. RMNP's increased bison enclosure will utilize this keystone species to bring back as much of the original Great Plains that existed historically. The landscape of the area surrounding the current bison enclosure consists of both native and nonnative grasses, forbs, and native and non-native trees. Invasive species are those that were not originally from the area but were introduced. These species do not have a natural predator and therefore out-compete the native species for resources and space. An invasive species differs from a non-native species in that their characteristics are not from the area but cause harm being present, while non-natives do not cause disruption. An invasive species’ introduction and presence are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.19 Having invasive species proves to be a burden because with few competitors they compete so successfully that they can displace the native species, causing disruption to the whole ecosystem. After expansion, the bison will aid in the removal of the invasive grasses, and limit their return. Brome and Kentucky blue grass are two invasive grass species that RMNP manages with the use of pesticides; through grazing, bison can help prevent the spread of these invasive species and reduce the need for pesticide use. This satisfies the third principle of establishing a conservation herd. While bison can aid in the reduction of aspen stands, RMNP would like to use fire as this was a common form of disturbance and will help establish stands with differential succession stages throughout the grassland. The use of fire is an essential tool and process because it benefits grasslands in the RMNP ecosystem. Prescribed fires can play a big role in preserving biodiversity and keeping various trees and shrubs from overtaking grassed regions.20 They enhance native plant seed production and also help to shift the arrangement of plants from non-native to a native community.21 These fires also help in many other ways such as: assistance with certain plants by germinating seeds, clearing ground cover to allow other, rare plants an opportunity, and by nourishing the soil with newly burnt vegetation.20 This has been a very important form of disturbance historically used and RMNP would like to continue with the use of prescribed fires. After RMNP establishes a fire disturbance regime, the bison will aid in the prevention of encroaching aspen stands inside the enclosure. Bison grazing creates and maintains a distinct patchwork of meadows, grasslands, and open habitat across the landscape on which many other species rely.22 Forbs, which bison graze less, account for higher biodiversity than grasses and sedges. By grazing other grasses and graminoids, bison allow forbs to grow and influence biodiversity.22 Their grazing increases both species richness and evenness in plant species 26 diversity.23 The habitat patches that result from bison grazing increases the diversity of colonization for several species that are otherwise excluded from the community by competitive dominance.23 Common behaviour of the Plains bison includes rolling and wallowing. This creates a depression in the soil called a wallow and was historically common around the plains.24 The soil is compacted and collects water in the spring, which is utilized as temporary ponds and houses other animals, such as ducks and frogs. At large spatial scales, grazed prairie that contains bison wallows has higher plant species diversity than grazed prairie without wallows.22 Bison grazing the prairies provide a whole web of life to other animals. Many of Canada’s native wildlife species such as black-footed ferrets, prairie dogs, and burrowing owls all used to be dependent on massive herds of grazing bison to shape grasslands and the landscape for the creation of their ideal habitats.20 Through this patchwork, not many small mammal species occur at the same sites within the grasslands height. A study conducted on small mammals in grassland ecosystems showed herbivorous small mammals usually dominate the tallgrass prairies while, omnivorous small mammals control the northern shortgrass.25 Although the reintroduction of bison in various parks and on grasslands has been gradual, the benefit of their presence is apparent in the increased populations of grassland birds and small mammals in the grazed and ungrazed areas. Moran (2014) concluded the results of a study conducted on grasslands showing that arthropod abundance and diversity were very high in areas bison were grazing. These large mammals consume a lot of food but it is the nitrogen contained in their manure that plays an important role in adding lots of high quality nutrients to the grass, thus bringing in a variety of wildlife. Insects feed off the bison’s dung, thus increasing their populations becoming food for birds and other small animals. The grazing showed there were around three times more arthropods from the grazed plots versus the controlled plots.26 Additionally, an increase in the bison population will result in an increase in scavengers such as bald eagles, ravens, and coyotes.27 6.2 Measuring Success It has been found that when grasslands in RMNP consist of more than 30% invasive species cover, there is a clear decline in the quality of the stand.12 RMNP aims to reduce this to 25% within the enclosure through bison grazing. Every summer, university students will be invited to conduct surveys to monitor the progress. When studies show that invasive species have been reduced to 25% for five years consecutively, subsequent surveys will be done every three years, instead of every year. Non-native grasses will be tolerated, as they are not outcompeting natives and is still viable feed for bison. 27 7.0 Increasing Public Visitation and Interest to the Park via Enclosure Expansion Ensuring a positive visitor experience is vital in attracting the public to Riding Mountain National Park. The goal is to maintain and re-establish a connection between people and bison, while maximizing the social, economic, and cultural benefits with the recovery of Plains bison in Manitoba. The management plan intends to provide Manitobans, Canadians, and visitors from other countries a unique experience with the bison in a natural habitat. Providing quality learning opportunities will raise awareness, promote understanding, and connect the public emotionally, producing a sense of ownership to RMNP. Bison Days, Bison Buggy, Bison Cam’s, drive thru, and other recreational opportunities will create a unique, fun, and educational experience. The goal for ensuring these projects are successful is to build an interpretive center as a home base to facilitate activities. Once built, staff and/or volunteers will be required to ensure activities are running in a smooth and efficient manner. Parks Canada is aware of the safety ramifications of the public interacting with the bison and will manage this accordingly. Parks Canada will establish speed limits and restrictions for vehicles within the enclosure as required. An information board* will be posted in a unique bison shape with bright colours to draw attention to information at both entrances of the enclosure on the south and east side of Lake Audy Road. Also, information will be located in the new interpretive center. The information will include safety precautions and hazard warnings. Through educational programs, staff training, and supervised activities, hazards will be avoided. *National Parks Sign Regulations will be taken into consideration while designing and posting. 7.1 Education and Awareness Riding Mountain National Park will host Bison Days for the public, a day once a month that will be dedicated to the interactive education of bison and grassland habitat. Bison Days will be held within the park at the Friends Learning Center under the coordination of Friends of Riding Mountain Park, a non-profit organization devoted to the education and awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of the park.28 Bison days will be held in an urban setting at the Children’s Museum at the Forks National Historic Site in Winnipeg in collaboration with Travel Manitoba. Bison Days will also be held at the new interpretive center when construction is completed. Bison Days will target youth with educational talks, workshops, and games. Children will be educated on the ecological role of bison in Manitoba, bison safety, and the bison enclosure at RMNP. Volunteers will be recruited to plan and facilitate the coordination of these events in addition to 28 existing Parks Canada staff and the Forks staff. Bison Days will be incorporated into the existing Kids Program for Riding Mountain National Park.29 Banff National Park uses a volunteer program in a similar way that fills roles such as Park Stewards that are involved in projects in education and enhancing visitor experience.30 7.2 Improving Existing Visitor Services Riding Mountain National Park currently offers vehicle access through the bison enclosure on four roads extending a total of approximately 14.5 km. The plan is to improve this drive thru experience by providing visitors an app called “Tour RMNP.” The “Tour RMNP” app will be developed by Riding Mountain National Park and will provide a personal tour guide for exploring walking trails and driving routes. This app will be available for download with an Apple or Android product from iTunes. A small fee will be associated to ensure adequate funding is being brought into the enclosure to fund programs in the park. The interpretive Bison Tour option will be an approximately 5 minute long drive from the comfort of your own vehicle and will consist of: Information about the history of the expiration and reintroduction of bison to the prairies (2 minutes) The importance of reintroduction of this native species for ecosystem functioning (2 minutes) Other bison activities and events in the park (1 minute) *Viewing cannot be guaranteed due to bison roaming feely among the enclosure. To ensure viewing of bison, Bison Buggy guided tours will be offered in the winter. 7.3 Bison Cams Parks Canada will be approaching Explore to assemble cameras within the enclosure to bring the public live real time video feeds of the bison. The hope is to draw public interest in bison and the enclosure. Cameras could be ran using solar power and have fences placed around them to protect them from damage.31 Viewers can go to the explore.org website on their computers or smartphones and view the video feed from the comfort of their own homes 24/7. Cameras will be strategically placed in locations bison frequently graze, for example near water sources. Parks Canada will determine camera locations by monitoring bison movements. Park personnel may also create prescribed burns to attract bison to graze in an area as was done in Grasslands National Park. Success has been seen with this in Grasslands National Park using techniques such as prescribed burns to attract bison to graze near cameras, and placing cameras strategically near water sources. 29 7.4 Trails The bison enclosure will be expanding and therefore encompassing new areas of land within RMNP. In regards to recreation, the park will replace, modify, and relocate any trails that have been removed by the expansion. In the preliminary design, two existing hiking trails near Grasshopper Valley and Lake Audy will be obstructed. The distance of the trails that pass through the proposed expansion is approximately 15 km. This distance will be substituted in another area that will be utilized by visitors. Based upon stakeholder consultation as well as funding opportunities, the following trail replacement ideas will be considered: Walking Nature Bridge Corridors: These are bridges that allow humans as well as other wildlife to flow through, but would not be accessible to bison from the enclosure. Walking trails: Narrow gravel trails could be placed along the border of the bison enclosure as opposed to going through it, replacing the old trails but still providing a chance to view bison. These walking trails would be self-guided and facilitate a rustic and truly nature-intimate experience. Along these trails, several bison viewing lookouts could be built to provide optimal viewing opportunities for hikers. Aerial trolley: An aerial trolley would extend the distance of the old trail above ground, and would allow visitors a chance to view the enclosure from the sky, providing a safe and up-close view of the bison and their home range. These aerial trolleys would be operated by park staff and would require pre-arranged bookings. 7.5 Bison Buggy Tours Frontiers North Adventures provides unique opportunities to visitors of Churchill to enter the Wapusk National Park in Manitoba with guided tours on the Tundra Buggy. This gives visitors the opportunity to see polar bears and to become educated on wildlife and the environment.32 There are roughly 20,000 visitors to Churchill annually, and of that approximately two thirds take part in a polar bear viewing tour.33 We at RMNP view this as an innovative tool that enhances visitors experience in Churchill during winter months and intend to bring the same experience to RNMP. Bison Buggy Tours will provide a unique off-roading opportunity for visitors to view bison in their natural habitat. Location of bison will be determined via satellite imagery at the start of each work day from the interpretive center. A small school bus will be converted to our Bison Buggy with customized exterior decals and snow tracks added to the wheel bearings to provide optimum traction and improve steering on snow and ice. Tours will be weather and registration pending, therefore it will be advertised and encouraged on Parks Canada’s website for people to 30 call ahead to ensure operation and schedule a tour. Tours will not be held from April-October or during temperatures greater than -1 ⁰C or less than -35 ⁰C. This will prevent damage of fragile grassland ecosystems and ensure functioning of the Buggy with adequate amounts of snow for operation. Tours will be 25-30 minutes which allows time to drive to the bison, take pictures, and return. The drive there and back will allow for an interpretive tour providing information on the history of the expiration and reintroduction of bison to the prairies, the importance of reintroduction of this native species for ecosystem functioning, and will allow for questions. Tours will also provide opportunity for other wildlife viewing such as elk. The Bison Buggy will seat approximately 15 passengers. Tours will have a fee associated in order to ensure adequate funding is being brought into the enclosure. Park attendants will be in charge of operating this project. 7.6 Measuring Success Visitation to RMNP has stabilized at approximately 250,000 visitors annually.8 Our goal is to see a 2.5% increase (~6,250) in annual visitation to RMNP within the first five years of implementing this bison management plan. After the initial year of implementing Bison Cams and the Tour RMNP app, our goal is to see a 10% increase in the use of Bison Cams and a 2% increase in app downloads the following year. We will evaluate all data and information from partners and visitors to see if goals have been achieved, and if required we will modify, adapt, or change activities in RMNP to ensure our goals will be met. Also, based on the data and information, new goals may be set for future years. Once the above preliminary goals have been met, this will allow Parks Canada to consider moving forward to the next phase, construction of the interpretive center. After implementing Bison Days at the new interpretive center, our goal is to see an additional 1% increase to the new annual visitation. This will allow Parks Canada to evaluate if they can move onto the third phase, supervised Bison Buggy Tours. 31 8.0 Implementation and Phasing This management plan will be implemented using a phased approach: Phase I: RMNP will consult with stakeholders to address any concerns. Feedback will be considered to begin addressing trail replacement options. With a minimum target of 20 km2 in mind, the landscape will be assessed with the help of GIS specialists and other accredited professionals, and the proposed enclosure will be confirmed before implementation. The exact shape, size, and features of the expanded bison range will determine the amount and type of fencing materials required and the associated cost of construction. To decrease cost and minimze the new materials required, RMNP will reuse as much of the present fencing as possible. Once the area has been approved for expansion, prescribed burns will be utilized to clear the vegetation to prepare the area for enlargement. Education and awareness initiatives will be executed along with visitor experience enhancement tools. Preliminary planning and drafting design regarding the interpretive center will occur in this phase. Bison cams and the RMNP Tour App will be made available. Beginning the monitoring of visitor experience is an important component of this phase. Phase II: Upon designating the exact measurement of area to be fenced, the appropriate stock rate of bison for the area will be calculated based on the size of the enclosure and the carrying capacity of the grassland. Fencing will be installed and completed to allow for the expansion of the enclosure. RMNP will begin monitoring the health of the herd and grasslands, and track any changes within the enclosure; monitoring of visitor experience will continue. Stakeholders will play an active role in moving forward with the plan. Building upon the success of Phase I, visitor experience will continue to be enhanced through construction of the interpretive center. Educational activities will begin at the new interpretive center. Viewing infrastructure (i.e. trails, trolly, bridge, etc.) will be determined at this time followed by the preliminary planning and drafting design. A review will be drafted to report the evolvement of the plan. Phase III: Monitoring will continue to track the state of the bison, grasslands, and visitor experience. This includes the assessment of progress establishing a conservation herd, maintaining integrity of grasslands, and increasing visitor experience. Results will be reported in the annual review and made accessible to the public. 32 Bison Buggy Tours will be put into effect. In addition, the construction of the chosen viewing infrastructure will begin. In targeting the recommendations set out in the guidelines for herd managers by the World Wildlife Fund, the expansion outlined in this bison management plan is to encompass a total area of at least four times the present pasture area of 5.2 square kilometres. In the long-term however, our future goal, as directed by the guidelines, is for the bison enclosure to cover a larger area capable of sustaining a herd of approximately 500 breeding individuals. Further management plans will be drafted and implemented to achieve this subsequent goal once all phases of this bison management plan have been successfully executed. . American Bison by dbarronoss. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dbarronoss/505686606. 33 9.0 Funding The actions outlined in this management plan are achievable provided Parks Canada, other Government agencies, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Explore, and stakeholders provide funding and resources (see Table 1). Parks Canada in their 2015-2016 Budget Financial Resources had the following budgeted amounts: $138,343,892 for visitor experience and $97,390,214 for heritage places conservation.34 Table 1: Phased funding. Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Managing of Bison Fencing To be determined in management plans Visitors Interpretive Center Drive Thru $1,000,000 ~ $1,00035 $99.00 (annually) Bison Days No major costs $70,00036 Bison Buggy Trails Cameras $99.00 (annually) Pending on method of trail replacement Partnership with Explore 34 10.0 Conclusion Canada’s national parks such as Riding Mountain National Park bring opportunities where inspiration, learning, and recreation can connect to represent this wonderful country. This is the first management plan for the Riding Mountain National Park bison herd. The plan was developed in consultation with the public, stakeholders and park staff, and has created a clear identity and direction for RMNP’s increased enclosure. The three overriding goals of the plan are to: continue conservation of the Manitoba Plains bison population, improve the ecological integrity of the grasslands, and to increase visitation and public interest in RMNP. These values/goals are the foundation of the new RMNP management plan. The strategies are focused, the objectives measurable, and the actions achievable. Implementing this plan follows and supports Parks Canada’s objectives/vision of improving and striving for ecological integrity. Managing the Plains bison herd at RMNP will provide opportunities for enhancing and increasing visitor experience and education, and re-establish the ecological role bison play on the landscape. This management plan provides long-term strategic direction for Parks Canada and managers at RMNP, supplying a preliminary framework. Progress on the management plan will be reviewed annually, further being subjected to periodic review every five years, consulting any changing circumstances. In the Lamar Valley – Bison by Harvey Barrison. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbarrison/8491286056. 35 11.0 Works Cited 1. Meffe G.K., Nielsen L.A., Knight R.L., and Schenborn D.A. 2002. Ecosystem Management: Adaptive, Community-Based Conservation. Island Press. 2. Lammers D., Ogorzalek K., Olson T., Flocchini J., Forrest S., Anderson B., Grajal A., Jorgensen D., Kremer C., LeFaive T., Majerus J., Montanye D., O’Brien D., Sarver S., and Stone J. 2013. Bison Conservation Management: Guidelines for Herd Managers. World Wildlife Fund. 3. Parks Canada. (29 Jan. 2013). Riding Mountain National Park Historic and Cultural Heritage. Retrieved from Government of Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/mb/riding/natcul/natcul2.aspx. 4. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. 2004. Riding Mountain Ecosystem Community Atlas. Retrieved from CPAWS website: http://cpaws.org/uploads/pubs/atlas-ridingmtn.pdf. 5. Species at Risk Public Registry. (17 Nov. 2014). Species Profile – Plains Bison. Retrieved from Government of Canada website: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/ speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=805. 6. Bison - Canadian Conservation Success. Retrieved from Canadian Bison Website: http://www.canadianbison.ca/consumer/Nature/conservation_success.htm. 7. Overby J. 2014. History of Bison. Retrieved from Manitoba Bison Association website: http://www.manitobabison.ca/about-the-bison/history-of-bison/. 8. Parks Canada. 2007. Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan. 9. Cornelsen S. 2013. Riding Mountain National Park – Monitoring: Grassland Indicator – Grassland Extent Measure. 10. Macullo M. (29 July 2014). Plains Bison Reintroduction in Banff National Park. Parks Canada. Retrieved from: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/plan/gestion-management/bison.aspx. 11. Arychuk C.E. (n.d.) Design a Winter Grazing Pasture for Bison. Bison Producers of Alberta. Retrieved from: http://bisoncentre.com/index.php/producers-2/resource-library/advanced-bisoninformation/pasture-management-/design-a-winter-grazing-pasture-for-bison. 12. Tarleton P. Personal communication. Riding Mountain National Park. Parks Canada. 13 Nov. 2013. 13. Gates C.C. 2006. Fencing Guidelines for Bison on Alberta Public Lands with Wildlife and Access in Mind. Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 8 p. 14. 2014. Bison Restoration. American Prairie Reserve. Retrieved from: http://www.americanprairie.org/ projectprogress/bison-restoration/. 36 15. Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve. (Dec. 2011). TbSAC Information. Retrieved from Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve website: http://rmbr.ca/tbsac/tbsac-information/. 16. Stewards B. (2013). Sturgeon River Plains Bison Management Plan. 17. Manitoba Conservation. (n.d.). Bovine Tuberculosis in Elk. Retrieved from Manitoba Conservation website: http://www.manitoba.ca/conservation/wildlife/disease/bovine.html. 18. Parks Canada. (15 Apr. 2009). Achieving Bovine Tuberculosis-free Status in Domestic Cattle and Park Wildlife. Retrieved from: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/v-g/ie-ei/at-ag/agir-action/sec8/page4.aspx. 19. Natural Resources Conservation Service Connecticut. (n.d.). Native, Invasive, and Other Plant-Related Definitions. Retrieved from USDA website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ct/ technical/ecoscience/invasive/?cid=nrcs142p2_011124. 20. Biomes of the World. (2003). Retrieved from The Wild Classroom & Explore Biodiversity website: http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/grasslands.html. 21. Parks Canada. (10 Apr. 2013). Grasslands National Park. Retrieved from Parks Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/sk/grasslands/natcul/natcul8.aspx. 22. Knapp A., Blair J., Briggs J., Collins S., Hartnett D., Johnson L, and Towne E. 1999. The Keystone Role of Bison in North American Tallgrass Prairie. BioScience 49(1): 39 – 50. 23. Hartnett D., Hickman K., and Fischer L. 1996. Effects of Bison Grazing, Fire, and Topography on Floristic Diversity in Tallgrass Prairie. Journal of Range Management 49(5): 413 – 420. 24. n.a. (n.d.) Basic Facts about Bison. Defenders of Wildlife. Retrieved from: http://www.defenders.org/ bison/basic-facts. 25. French N., Grant W., Grodzinski W., and Swift D. 1976. Small Mammal Energetics in Grassland Ecosystems. (pp. 201-220). Ecological Society of America. 26. Entomology Today. (30 Sept. 2014). Bison Grazing Increases Arthropod Diversity and Abundance in Tallgrass Prairie. Retrieved from Entomology Today website: http://entomologytoday.org/2014/09/ 30/bison-grazing-increases-arthropod-diversity-and-abundance-in-tallgrass-prairie. 27. Pullen S., and Ballard K. (Apr. 2004). The Grassland Biome. Retrieved from University of California Museum of Paleontology website: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/ grassland.html. 28. About Us. Retrieved from Friends of Riding Mountain website: http://www.friendsofridingmountain.ca/about-us/. 29. Parks Canada. (2014) Riding Mountain National Park Special Activities. Retrieved from Government of Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/mb/riding/activ/dactivites_2014_events.aspx. 37 30. Parks Canada. (14 Oct. 2014). Banff National Park Volunteer Program. Retrieved from Government of Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/edu/benevole-volunteer.aspx. 31. Parks Canada. (10 June 2013). Grasslands National Park of Canada - Visitor Information - Bison Update Spring 2013. Retrieved from Government of Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pnnp/sk/grasslands/visit/visit7.aspx. 32. View Polar Bears in the Wild. Retrieved from Frontiers North Website: http://www.frontiersnorth.com/ the-tundra-buggy-adventure. 33. Parks Canada. (Oct 2007). Wapusk National Park of Canada Management Plan. Retrieved from Government of Canada website. 34. Parks Canada. (2014). Parks Canada Agency 2014-2015 Report on Plans and Priorities. Retrieved from Government of Canada website 35. Thomas C. (6 Mar. 2011). How Much does it Cost to Develop an App? Retrieved from Blue Cloud Solutions website: http://www.bluecloudsolutions.com/blog/cost-develop-app/. 36. Pricing and Ordering. 2014. Retrieved from Truck and Go website: http://trucktracks.com/en/pre-order/. 38 12.0 Figure References 1. Parks Canada. 2007. Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (p. 8). 2. Parks Canada. 2007. Riding Mountain National Park of Canada and Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (p. 35). 3. Lastra R. and Kenkel N. 2005. Contract Report for Parks Canada. Quantitative Plant Ecology Laboratory, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Quantitative Plant Ecology Laboratory, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 4. Google Maps, 2014. 5. Gates, C. Cormack. 2006. Fencing Guidelines for Bison on Alberta Public Lands with Wildlife and Access in Mind (p. 4). Cover photo: Bison 9-13-14 by Larry Smith. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lsmith2010/15240560542. 39 40 Handsome Bison by Rich Keen. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution –2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). Accessed 24 Nov. 2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/6969930784. 41