Plains bison reintroduction

Banff National Park

Parks Canada is pleased to announce that bison now roam free in Banff National Park. After an absence of over a century, the return of wild plains bison is a historic, ecological and cultural triumph.

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Reintroducing Plains Bison to Banff National Park

The reintroduction of Plains Bison to Banff National Park is reversing the cascade of adverse ecological and cultural impacts caused by their near-extinction from North America over 140 years ago.

16 healthy Plains Bison reintroduced in 2017
Over 130 Plains Bison on the landscape in 2024

The project has created a new, growing herd and set a strong foundation of knowledge and best practices to inspire and support allyship for similar reintroductions by Indigenous Peoples and conservation practitioners elsewhere.

Conservation staff on horseback in backcountry — Parks Canada resource conservation team members work on horseback in the backcountry of Banff National Park, radio collaring the bison herd for monitoring purposes.
*Photo: Karsten Heuer/Parks Canada*

Bison crossing river — Three bison tackle a river crossing in Banff National Park, a common behaviour within their vast territory.
*Photo: Dan Rafla/Parks Canada*

Context

Over a century ago, Plains Bison were hunted to near extinction throughout the Great Plains and the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, including the area that became Banff National Park. The consequences have been significant, including reduced biodiversity and impacts to natural processes in the ecosystem.

As a keystone species, bison influence many parts of the ecosystem. Their grazing and wallowing create habitat for plants and other animals, especially those found in grassy meadows. The movement of bison herds redistributes nutrients throughout the ecosystem. Their loss has also deeply affected Indigenous Peoples, who have vital cultural connections with bison.

Staff monitoring bison in the backcountry — Parks Canada team members and partners watch as the bison are released from their shipping containers in Windy Pasture of the Panther Valley in Banff National Park.
*Photo: Dan Rafla/Parks Canada*

Bison Reintroduction

In 2017, 16 healthy Plains Bison were translocated from Elk Island National Park to Banff National Park. For decades, Parks Canada has contributed to the reintroduction of bison across Canada, the USA and even Russia, by providing disease-free Plains and Wood Bison from Elk Island National Park. This translocation program has started many new herds and is significant to global bison conservation.

Outcomes

As of 2024, with the first seven years of the bison reintroduction project complete, the herd at Banff National Park is healthy and has grown rapidly to over 130 animals. Significantly, this new herd is only the 5th free-roaming population of this imperilled species in the world, within historic Plains Bison range.

bison roaming — Since reintroduction in 2017, the bison herd has grown to over 130 animals, which roam a backcountry area in Banff National Park.
*Photo: Karsten Heuer/Parks Canada*

Working together

Much of the project’s success is due to the weaving of Indigenous ceremonies and cultural knowledge with western science. This has been achieved through important collaboration with many First Nations, including the Stoney Nakoda Nations (Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney), Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, Kainai Nation, Tsuut’ina Nation, the Ktunaxa and Shuswap Bands, the Samson Cree Nation, and the Rocky View Métis District of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. Many partners from academia, surrounding municipalities, the provincial government, and non-governmental organizations have also been pivotal.

Active management

The free-roaming bison population is kept within a 1200 km² home range within the national park by using short sections of wildlife-friendly fencing, placed where bison might try to leave the park, and by herding them back when they leave park boundaries.

bison calves — A new generation begins their life, home in Banff National Park, as part of the restored bison herd. As the herd continues to grow, population and range management will be important for future sustainability.
*Photo: Karsten Heuer/Parks Canada*

Looking ahead

With the completion of the first seven years of the project, Parks Canada, Indigenous groups, and stakeholders are exploring what a broader bison program might look like, including trans-jurisdictional possibilities and regulated Indigenous harvest of bison to manage the growing herd. Collaborating with partners across boundaries will be key in accommodating the growing herd over the long term.

"Bison need to be wildlife, like other species. They want to move across our human-made boundaries. How we meet their request, as a society, will determine the long-term success of this project."

Karsten Heuer, Bison Reintroduction Project Manager, Parks Canada