Catalina Island bison herd: Difference between revisions

A 1961 report in ''Sports Illustrated'' stated, "Buffalo (nobody calls them bison) roam the island in two herds. The first was left there 30-odd years ago after the filming of a western. The second was introduced a few years later in hopes of supplementing the original, but the two herds refused to mingle."<ref>A LOCAL SOUTH SEAS ISLE. By: Williams, Roger, Sports Illustrated, 0038822X, 07/10/1961, Vol. 15, Issue 2</ref>

 

The bison herd is maintained and monitored by the [[Catalina Island Conservancy]]. Controlling the bison population is important for the island's ecological health.{{r|latimesbisonpill}} Bison are not native to Catalina Island. Santa Catalina Island Conservancy makes sure that the number of bison on the island does not exceed the carrying capacity. In 2003, a study was conducted on the bison herd to estimate the carrying capacity of bison on several zones that the bison spend the most time in. The study developed options to prevent the bison from affecting native species such as restricting bison to one or more zones or to get rid of all the bison from the island.<ref name=":0" /> The study found the bison's shaggy coats carry imported plants such as fennel which disrupt [[endemic species]] like [[St. Catherine's lace]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Cengel |first=Katya |last2= |first2= |date=September 2022 |title=The Uneasy Future of Catalina Island's Wild Bison |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/uneasy-future-catalina-island-wild-bison-180980559/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |magazine=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

 

Beginning in 2009, the herd was given animal birth control to maintain the population at around 150 animals.<ref name="latimesbisonpill">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-catalina-bison20-2009nov20,0,1351086.story|title=Catalina bison going on birth control|first=Louis |last=Sahagun|date=2009-11-20|work=Los Angeles Times Times|access-date=2009-11-20}}</ref> With the herd numbering around 100 animals in 2020 and no new bison births in several years, Catalina Island Conservancy made the decision to introduce two pregnant female bison by the end of the year. The new additions will enhance the genetics of the current bison population on the Island.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-13|title=New Additions to Catalina Island Bison Herd|url=https://www.catalinaconservancy.org/userfiles/files/PR%20-%20Bison%20Announcement%20-%20FINAL%2010_13.pdf|access-date=2020-11-16|website=Catalina Island Conservancy|language=en-US}}</ref>

 

On August 26, 2015, a contract worker from American Conservation Experience was injured by a bison while working near Tower Peak on Catalina Island.<ref name="latimesbisongoresworker">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-bison-gores-worker-on-catalina-island-20150826-story.html|title=Bison attacks man taking photos on Catalina Island|author=Ruben Vives|date=2015-08-26|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2020-06-13}}</ref> On February 17, 2018, a man camping at the Little Harbor Campground was gored by a bison.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-02-18|title=Man gored by bison on Catalina Island|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2018/02/17/man-gored-by-wild-buffalo-on-catalina-island/|access-date=2020-11-04|work=Orange County Register|language=en-US}}</ref>