New tracking system at Sask. provincial park will make it easier for visitors to see bison

A herd of bison in Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. (Saskatchewan Government)

The province says 14 bison with ear tags at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park gives visitors the opportunity to easily see where the animals are located thanks to GPS technology.

The herd’s location within the park can be seen on a screen in the Visitor Centre.

“We often receive visitor inquiries about where the bison are in the park,” Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, Park Manager Dave Bjarnason said in a news release. “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.”

Park staff can also more easily monitor the health of the herd, learn more about their grazing patterns and determine if conservation efforts are effective, the province said in the release.

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“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 the 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 introduced to Buffalo Pound Provincial Park in 1972.

The province says that Saskatchewan livestock producers can also benefit from the information gathered at the park which will lay groundwork for future projects regarding bison grazing behavior and the use of technology to track livestock.