Two bison bulls leave Banff; park staff want them to return

BANFF, Alta. — Parks Canada says two bison bulls have wandered out of Banff National Park — just a week after the herd became free-roaming animals.

Officials said the bison left the 1,200-square-kilometre reintroduction zone separately last week and have been grazing on provincial land northeast of the national park.

“We’re monitoring their behaviour and their movements closely,” said Bill Hunt, manager of resource conservation with Banff National Park.

“Safety is our No. 1 priority with this, so we’ve made sure we’ve notified people in the nearby campgrounds.”

He said wildlife staff have visited two equestrian campgrounds in the area to help educate campers and riders on how to deal with bison.

Sixteen plains bison from Elk Island National Park were reintroduced as part of a $6.4-million plan in February 2017 into the remote Panther River Valley, about 40 kilometres north of Banff.

Ten of the females had calves last year and seven of those animals have now given birth again this year — including two on Aug. 5.

The two bulls, along with the other 31 bison in the herd, are being monitored both electronically and by staff on the ground.

Officials said they were prepared for the possibility the bison would roam and are working closely with the province and landowners in the area to guide the animals back to the park.

“We’d like to make sure they stay in the park as much as possible and we don’t want to run the risk of them encouraging other animals out,” said Hunt.