Fourteen bison at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park are now equipped with GPS ear tags, allowing park staff and visitors alike to monitor the herd’s whereabouts and learn more about their behaviour.
The real-time tracking system displays the bison’s location on a screen inside the park’s Visitor Centre, making it easier for guests to spot the animals and learn about their movements. The initiative is a joint project between the Saskatchewan Ministries of Parks, Culture and Sport, and Agriculture.
“The Bison at Buffalo Pound are part of the area’s history and they play a crucial role in the park’s ecosystem,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said in a release. “With this new tracking system, park staff can make sure both the bison and the land remain healthy. It will also help visitors create a deeper connection to nature and the cultural importance of these remarkable animals.”
Bison were first reintroduced to Buffalo Pound in 1972. Since then, the size of the herd has changed over time as park staff adapted to their grazing needs and learned how to best manage the space.
The new GPS tags are expected to improve the ability of staff to monitor herd health, track grazing patterns, and assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
“We often receive visitor inquiries about where the bison are in the park,” said Park Manager Dave Bjarnason. “The herd lives on 250 acres of rolling hills and is not always visible from the fence line. The display helps visitors determine if they can find a spot to see them up close, and it gives us another opportunity to educate people about the bison.”
Officials say the data collected could also benefit Saskatchewan livestock producers. The findings may support future research into grazing behaviour and demonstrate new uses for tracking technology in livestock management.
