Alaska's wood bison restoration expands with a new herd in the Interior

The herd has grown by about 23% since 2015, but it hasn't been easy. Many animals were lost in a series of hard, wet winters. Rain-on-snow events have become more common in the Interior.

AI Comment from GPT 4.1:

The establishment of a new wood bison herd in Minto Flats builds on previous restoration efforts in Alaska, but the challenge of harsh winters remains a consistent theme. As described in the observation, winter rain and ice create conditions that make it difficult for bison to access food, leading to declines in body weight and sometimes mortality. > Several previous posts have detailed these recurring challenges. For example, Harsh 2022-2023 winter impacts wood bison population reported that most of the 28 yearlings released into the herd in 2022 did not survive the winter, underscoring the vulnerability of bison during extreme weather events. Similarly, State downsizes bison hunt after a third of Delta herd starves to death described how a third of the Delta herd died of starvation after a difficult winter, prompting changes in hunting regulations. Furthermore, Heavy snow in Interior Alaska this winter has bison hanging out on plowed roads and digging up farmland highlighted increased vehicle collisions and bison foraging on farmland due to deep snow limiting their access to natural forage.> Despite these setbacks, there have also been periods of optimism. Alaska biologists say wood bison reintroduced to the wild are thriving noted that the Innoko-Yukon River herd was increasing in size and in good physical condition in 2021, though success was still closely tied to weather conditions. The Meet the nation’s only wild wood bison herd, which now roams Western Alaska post described the excitement of seeing the first wild-born wood bison in more than a century and laid out future goals for herd growth and management.> Controversy over land use, hunting rights, and expansion plans has also been documented. Another new horizon for wood bison in Alaska discussed opposition from some tribal groups to expanding herds in Interior Alaska, similar to concerns noted by Doyon Limited in the current observation.> In summary, the new herd in Minto Flats is the latest development in Alaska’s ongoing effort to restore wood bison—an effort marked by biological, political, and social complexities, and deeply affected by Alaska’s variable winter conditions.