MEDORA. – A bison capture is scheduled to begin today and continue through the week at the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

For safety reasons, this operation will be closed to the public. The park plans to reduce the current population of about 700 bison to 400 by removing animals in multiple age classes. A helicopter will be used to herd bison into a holding area. The flight crew will conduct an initial survey of the landscape and population count prior to beginning the gathering. The last bison capture in the South Unit was in 2021.

Bison that are removed from the park will be offered to tribes through the InterTribal Buffalo Council.

Because bison are constrained to park lands by perimeter fence, periodic captures are necessary to maintain appropriate numbers relevant to available resources.