Bison Management Plan Final

1 Sturgeon River Plains Bison Management plan March 2013 ii iii Approval Page The Bison Management plan is approved by: _____ _____ Alan Fehr Date Field Unit Superintendent Prince Albert National Park Parks Canada Agency _____ _____ Chuck Lees Date Director Fish and Wildlife Branch ministry of Environment Government of Saskatchewan iv Acknowledgements The Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards, Prince Albert National Park and ministry of Environment comprise the Coordinating Committee.

2 Which oversaw the Management plan workshops and writing. The Coordinating Committee is pleased to present the draft Management plan to Parks Canada and ministry of Environment for Final review and approval. Acknowledgement is due to all individuals and organizations from the Advisory Committee, workshop presenters, and draft Management plan reviewers for their contributions and continuous support through the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Management plan writing process. v Abstract The Sturgeon River plains Bison herd are descendants of 10-15 Bison from Elk Island National Park of Canada, originally released north of the Thunder Hills region of northern Saskatchewan in 1969.

3 The small herd relocated to more southern regions of the Prince Albert National Park of Canada and over the next 40 years grew to approximately 400 animals. Disease, predation and harvest have resulted in the population declining to less than 250 animals in 2012. Plains Bison are listed as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada which was an important consideration when Management goals and actions were developed. Bison have a long cultural history with First Nations and M tis. The Sturgeon River plains Bison herd plays an important role in reconnecting Bison and First Nations and M tis. One of the goals is to facilitate connecting First Nations and M tis youth and Bison .

4 The Sturgeon River plains Bison Management plan is a multilateral plan designed to involve many organizations, agencies and local stakeholders in implementing Management goals and actions, ensuring the Sturgeon River plains Bison herd remains a self-sustaining, naturally regulated, and free ranging population. At the time of publication, the genetic analysis of the Sturgeon River herd is not yet available. The genetic work will assist in determining a minimum viable population for the Sturgeon River herd. The Bison range overlaps Prince Albert National Park, Provincial Crown land and private land. Their movements bring them into conflict with local landowners.

5 Many of the goals and actions presented in the Management plan deal with reducing conflict between landowners and Bison while increasing social tolerance. Conflict arises when Bison damage crops and infrastructure resulting in economic losses for producers. Some compensation programs exist, but room is available to expand the tools available to landowners to reduce conflict and help meet the overall goal of a self-sustaining, naturally regulated, free-ranging Bison population. Increasing the local, national, and international profile of the Bison through tourism activity will bring economic benefits to the community. This Management plan is intended to be adaptive; evolving as more information becomes available, social tolerance changes, awareness is generated, and goals are met.

6 Going forward, public support of the Management plan will be important for the long-term conservation of the Sturgeon River plains Bison herd1 Table of Contents Why Do We Need a Regional Plains Bison Management plan ? 3 Who Manages the Sturgeon River Plains Bison ? 3 Goals of the Management plan 4 Designing the plan 4 Background and Status of the Sturgeon River Plains Bison 5 Conservation Status 7 Monitoring and Managing Plains Bison Population Demographics 7

7 Plains Bison Population Demographics Background Information 7 Goals and Corresponding Action for Population Demographics Section 9 Habitat Assessment and Planning 10 Bison Habitat Managed by Prince Albert National Park 10 Bison Habitat Managed by Private Landowners 10 Bison Habitat Managed by Saskatchewan ministry of Environment 11 Goals and Corresponding Actions for Habitat Assessment and Planning Section 13 Disease Management 14 Background Information for Relevant Diseases 14 National Wildlife Disease Strategy Implementation 16 Goals and Actions Corresponding to Disease Management 16 Managing Human and Plains Bison Interactions 18 Human and Plains Bison Interactions Background

8 Information 18 2 Goals and Actions Corresponding to Human and Plains Bison Interactions 19 Recognizing the Cultural and Economic Importance of the Sturgeon River Plains Bison 20 Cultural Significance of Plains Bison to First Nations People 20 Cultural Significance of Plains Bison to M tis People 21 Plains Bison and the Regional Economy 21 Goals and Actions Corresponding to Cultural and Economic Importance of Sturgeon River Plains Bison 22 Schedule for Periodic plan Assessment and Review 22 Dispute Resolution 23 Communications 23 Literature Cited 24 List of Figures Figure 1 Sturgeon River Plains Bison Aerial Survey Data 1996 to 2012 7 Figure 2 Sturgeon River Plains Bison Range 12 Appendices Appendix 1 Terms

9 Of Reference 25 Appendix 2 Dates and Themes of Advisory Workshops and Open Houses 29 Appendix 3 Prince Albert National Park Anthrax Procedural Guidelines 30 3 Why Do We Need a Regional Plains Bison Management plan ? Managing a free-ranging Bison population in the Sturgeon River area is challenging because they travel on or across land administered by different jurisdictions. These lands include Prince Albert National Park of Canada (PANP) administered by Parks Canada, Provincial Crown land administered by Saskatchewan ministry of Environment (MoE) and Saskatchewan ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and private land administered by individual landowners.

10 In order to maintain a self-sustaining, naturally-regulated, and free-ranging population, a cooperatively administered Management plan is necessary that attempts to meet the requirements of all parties involved and works towards accomplishing common goals. It will be important for all parties involved to focus on the long-term goal of a self-sustaining Bison population. The Management plan will address the needs and concerns of people impacted, resource users, and Provincial and Federal agencies. The Management plan will discuss what is known about plains Bison , what needs to be done to better understand the complexities of Bison ecology, and what actions will be required by the various parties involved to successfully maintain plains Bison on the regional landscape and minimize conflict between humans and Bison .