Growing up in the US I learned how massive herds of Bison used to roam out West, but then people killed them - even shooting them from trains, and in so doing they nearly killed them all. . Once numbering in the tens of millions, the population was reduced to just a few hundred wild animals in the United States by the late 1880s. A VERY sad and shameful time in the history of the US for sure, which shockingly is not only part of our history, but is something the current occupant of the white house and his administration are actively working to do again as they try to displace hundreds of bison from federal lands, citing a reinterpretation of grazing law. I hope someone stops them.
Knowing the history of the US with Bison and the current attempts to harm them, it made me so happy to read about Elk Island National Park in Canada - where they are doing the opposite - trying to protect Bison!
- Elk Island National Park is a national park in Alberta, Canada, that played an important part in the conservation of the plains bison.
- Located just 45 minutes east of Edmonton, Alberta, it serves as an excellent, accessible day trip from the city and offers a unique "safari-like" experience where you can spot plains and wood bison from your vehicle.
- The park is home to over 700 bison, as well as elk, moose, and deer. Dawn and dusk are the best times to see the larger animals.
- As part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, the park experiences very little light pollution. It is a premier location to see the Milky Way or the Northern Lights.
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