DNR, Zoo release rare bison herd into state park

It stems from a partnership the DNR and Minnesota Zoo entered into back in 2012, with both outfits working together to preserve the American bison.

Eleven genetically rare bison have been released into a state park near Mankato as part of an effort to expand the bison herd in Minnesota.

“Over the last four years, that’s been part of the planning work that’s gone on…to really think about how could we do this”, said Kathy Dummer, regional manager for the Minnesota DNR’s Parks and Trails. Of the more than 500,000 bison in North America, less than 20,000 fit into this category.

Fisher says, “We’ve been doing DNA testing on our animals here and we can say it pretty much free of cattle DNA”.

The DNR says they believe three of the bison are pregnant and will have calves come spring.

Even though the herd at Minneopa is small, the plan is for their numbers to grow.

The group of 11 bison includes cow/calf pairs and yearling bison heifers.

Dummer says, “Some different collaborative efforts in our new living laboratory, whether it is how they impact the landscape”.

The park has a large potential audience with over 200,000 people within 50 miles.

The bison can be viewed by the public by driving through the hard-surfaced road at the park.

It will take time for the bison to get used to their new environment, so the entire campground side of Minneopa State Park will be closed until the bison are acclimated.

Two of a herd of 11 bison graze in an enclosure Friday, September 25, … There are now 90 or so bison at Blue Mounds State Park, released there in 1961.

It’s a joint conservation effort between the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Zoo.

According to the Minnesota DNR, bison in North American were estimated between 30 to 60 million animals and roamed throughout the middle to southern portions of the state.