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Photo courtesy of Doug Lindstrand A newborn bison calf at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center stands next to its mother. The calf was born on April 21. |
Bison calves are flooding the grounds at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center this spring. March 31 brought AWCC first calf a caribou. April 15th came with 2 plains bison that were born simultaneously. On April 21st a wood bison calf checked in and on April 26 during the big snow storm a precious little musk ox calf was born. Today, one hour ago a second wood bison joined us.
A dozen more calves are expected as the spring progresses. Elk calves will all come later in May.
Seven to 10 wood bison calves are expected this season. These calves will someday all be released into the wild as a State wildlife conservation effort to reestablish the species into the interior of Alaska. The plains bison calves will be transplanted this fall to Popof Island. Popof Island acquired plains bison in 1956. Apparently, a lone Washington State Commercial Fisherman returning to fish Alaska waters brought 4 female bison up with him and dumped them on the island. One female was pregnant and gave birth to a bull calf. Thus 52 years later 175 plains bison roam the Island. AWCC’s plains bison calves are desperately needed to improve the genetics of this remote herd. DNA samples of the Popof Island bison and AWCC’s bison are being tested by the American Bison Society to confirm that the animals are all pure plains bison without cattle genes. The genetics are also being studied to identify where these plains bison originated from. The isolated Popof Island genetic could prove to be very important to Plains Bison Conservation
AWCC elk calves are yet to be born but are scheduled to be released on Umnak Island this fall. There they will be managed by the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Corporation.
The elk will provide watchable wildlife opportunities, a subsistence food source for the Village of Nikolski and eventually, when the number of animals gets greater than the habitat can support, sport hunting will be allowed.