Rare bison given new home in Minnesota state park

– A group of 11 genetically-rare bison were released into Minneopa State Park near Mankato, Minn. on Friday as part of a joint conservation effort by the Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Zoo.

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

The population of wild bison in North America, especially in Minnesota, had dwindled in the last two centuries due to hunting expeditions.

Bison were reintroduced to Blue Mounds State Park near Luverne, Minn.in 1961.

Tony Fisher, director of animal collections for the Minnesota Zoo, said, “They don’t get as large as the bison without cattle DNA”. It paves the way for eleven pure strain bison to be drawn into the park near Mankato.The park contains sufficient prairie to accommodate a bison herd.

This was a collective effort of conservation between the Minnesota Zoo and the Department of Natural Resources.

Numerous nearby educational institutions are potential research partners.

Soon, the public will be permitted to drive vehicles within the range of the state park.

She said that they were hoping for the population of the genetically rare bison to eventually grow to at least 40.

In 2012, Minnesota’s Natural Resources Department entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Zoo to expand and preserve the state’s bison herd.

“We didn’t have to do a lot to the landscape to provide that opportunity for the visitors”, the DNR’s Kathy Dummer said.

In the astounding register pampas of Minneopa State Park, a once abundant mammal will skulk among the vigorous grasses one more time. “We anticipate opening things back up by mid-October”.

Updates on the bison and more information on Minneopa State Park can be found at www.mndnr.gov/state_parks/minneopa/index.html. Minneopa State Park is located off U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 68, 5 miles west of Mankato.