This is not intended to be a complete and exhaustive list of all the resources, projects and publications dealing with the various aspects of Wood Bison management in Northwestern Canada, but it should provide a good beginning.
If you are aware of other information and resources that should be included, please contact the Bison and Roads Steering Committee.
Canada Gates, C.C., R.O. Stephenson, H.W. Reynolds, C.G. van Zyll de Jong, H. Schwantje, M. Hoefs, J. Nishi, N. Cool, J. Chisholm, A. James and B. Koonz. 2001. National Recovery Plan for the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae). National Recovery Plan No. 21. Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife (RENEW). Ottawa. Ontario. 50 pp. The National Wood Bison Recovery Team is currently preparing an updated Recovery Strategy for Wood Bison. The Recovery Strategy will undergo extensive review and consultation prior to formal approval.
Gates, C.C., R.O. Stephenson, H.W. Reynolds, C.G. van Zyll de Jong, H. Schwantje, M. Hoefs, J. Nishi, N. Cool, J. Chisholm, A. James and B. Koonz. 2001. National Recovery Plan for the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae). National Recovery Plan No. 21. Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife (RENEW). Ottawa. Ontario. 50 pp.
The National Wood Bison Recovery Team is currently preparing an updated Recovery Strategy for Wood Bison. The Recovery Strategy will undergo extensive review and consultation prior to formal approval.
Northwest Territories
At present, there is no Management Plan for Wood Bison in the Northwest Territories, but a plan is currently being prepared.
On the Government of the Northwest Territories website is Fact Sheet: Species at Risk: Wood Bison which contains useful information about NWT Wood Bison.
Yukon An executive summary of the current Yukon Bison Management Plan is available on the Government of Yukon website. An updated Yukon Bison Management Plan is currently being prepared and is scheduled to be available for consultative review by August 2008. Alberta Mitchell, J.A. and Gates, C.C. 2002. Status of the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, and Alberta Conservation Association, Wildlife Status Report No. 39, Edmonton, AB. 32 pp. British Columbia BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. This a source for authoritative conservation information on approximately 6000 plants and animals, and almost 600 ecological communities (ecosystems) in British Columbia. Accessed at < http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/reports.do?index=228 > Harper, W.L., J.P. Elliott, I. Hatter, and H. Schwantje. 2000. Management Plan for Wood Bison in British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. 43 pp. Back to top Publications Selected publications on Wood Bison in Northwestern Canada. Boyd, D.P. 2003. Conservation of North American Bison: Status and Recommendations. Thesis. University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Gardner, C.L., and A.R. DeGange. 2003. A Review of Information on Wood Bison in Alaska and Adjacent Canada, with Particular Reference to the Yukon Flats. Accessed June 5, 2008 at <http://soundswild.alaska.gov/management/game/wood_bison/appendix_a.pdf > Harper, W. L., and C.C. Gates. 2000. Recovery of Wood Bison in British Columbia. In: Darling, L.M. (ed). Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Habitat and Species at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb. 1999, Vol. 2, B.C. Ministry of Environment. p. 915-924. Jensen, O. C., Nishi, J., Cool, N.L., Poll, D. and H. W. Reynolds. 2004. Assessing Suitable and Critical Habitat for Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing: Preliminary Results. In: Hooper, T.D. (ed). Proceedings of the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference. 2-6 Mar. 2004, Victoria, B.C. Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference Organizing Committee, Victoria, B.C. 18 pp. Larter, N.C., A.R.E. Sinclair, T. Ellsworth, J. Nishi and C.C. Gates. 2000. Dynamics of reintroduction in an indigenous large ungulate: the wood bison of northern Canada. Anim. Conserv. 4: 299-309. Larter, N.C., Nishi, J.S., Ellsworth, T., Johnson, D., More, G., and D.G. Allaire. 2003. Observations of Wood Bison Swimming Across the Liard River, Northwest Territories, Canada. Arctic Vol. 56. No. 4: 408-412. Larter, N.C., Allaire, D.G., and T.S. Jung. 2007. Population Survey of the Nahanni Wood Bison Population. March 2004. Manuscript Report No. 176. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/PDF/176.pdf > Larter N.C. and D.G. Allaire. 2007. History and Current Status of the Nahanni Wood Bison Population. File report 136. 44 pp. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/FileReports/FileReports/136.htm > McFarlane (Zitlau), K., Wilson, G.A., and J.S. Nishi. 2006. Management Strategies for Conservation of Genetic Diversity in Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae). File Report No. 135. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/PDF/135.pdf > Mitchell, J.A., Gates, C.C., Rowell, R., and K. Lloyd. 2000. A Decision Support Tool for Managing the Risk of Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in Northern Canada. In: Darling L.M. (ed). Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Habitat and Species at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb. 1999, Vol. 2, B.C. Ministry of Environment. pp. 173-178. Nishi, J.S. 2002. Surveillance Activities under the Northwest Territories Bison Control Area Program (1987-2000). Manuscript Report No. 145. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/ManuscriptReports/pdf/145.pdf > Redburn, M.J., Strong, W.L., and C.C.Gates. 2008. Suitability of boreal mixedwood clearcuts as wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) foraging habitat in north-central Alberta, Canada. Forest Ecology and Management 255: Issue 7, p. 2225-2235. Reynolds, H.W., C.C. Gates, and R.D. Glaholt. 2003. Bison (Bison bison). Pages 1009-1060, in Feldhammer, G.A., B.C. Thompson, and J.A. Chapman. eds. Wild Mammals of North America. Biology, Management, and Conservation. second Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore and London. 1216 pp. Stephenson, B., Rogers, R. R., and Hunter, A. 2007. Wood Bison Restoration in Alaska: A Review of Environmental and Regulatory Issues and Proposed Decisions for Project Implementation. Division of Wildlife Conservation. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. 103 pp. Accessed June 5, 2008 at this web address Strong, W.L., and C.C. Gates. 2008. Wood bison population recovery and forage availability in northwestern Canada. Journal of Environmental Management, In Press, Corrected Proof. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18191321 > Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. 2000. Bison in British Columbia: Ecology, Conservation and Management. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Victoria. B.C. Canada. 5 pp. Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2002. Wildlife in British Columbia At Risk: Wood Bison. B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Victoria, B.C. Canada. 5 pp. Back to top Bison Vehicle Collision Reporting The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in the Northwest Territories has developed a Bison Collision Report, and developed policies and protocol on reporting, dispatching and disposing of bison involved in vehicle collisions where natural recovery is not possible. The report also contains instructions on collecting biological samples, where required. View the Bison Vehicle Collision Report and Procedures Protocol Bibliography A bibliography of information relating to Wood Bison and the Northwest Territories Wood Bison Control Area is available on the Northwest Territories Bison Control Area website. Projects British Columbia Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) staff are using the Otto Wildlife device to record Wood Bison carcasses and live sightings along the road. The Otto Wildlife is a portable GPS-based device that can record Points of Interest (POI). Data collected are date, time, latitude, longitude, species (choice of 20), and dead or alive. The data can be exported in a CSV format (comma separated value) to the user's PC for processing in Excel, Access or GIS programs. This will enable PWGSC and ICBC to map locations delineating collision hot spots and to map herd locations in order to assist in providing timely warnings to motorists. Otto Wildlife Photo courtesy of PERSENTECH Highway Signs Wildlife warning signs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. An effective wildlife warning sign is one that conveys the danger that the animal poses to the motorist, not merely the presence of the animal on the road. Static wildlife warning signs - ones that are in the same place day in and day out, year in and year out - are not effective. Some studies show that high percentages of motorists do not even notice those types of signs. They fade into the landscape. To be effective, wildlife warning signs, need to be in place when the hazard is high, and removed when the hazard is lower. Seasonal signage, non-traditional messages, moveable signage, variable message boards, and hinged signs that can be covered up and uncovered as required, are all ways to make signage more noticeable. This is not intended to be a complete inventory of all bison warning signs. If you know of a sign that is not represented here, please contact the Bison and Roads Steering Committee. Back to top Highway Sign Jurisdiction Designed for use on Alaska Highway in BC; not in use as yet. Standard Bison Warning Sign used on British Columbia highways where BC Ministry of Transportation has jurisdiction Billboard on the Alaska Highway, British Columbia, developed by the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program. 10 feet x 20 feet Billboard on the Alaska Highway, British Columbia, developed by the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program 10 feet x 20 feet Alaska Unknown Unknown Colorado Yukon Alaska Highway, BC section Alaska Highway, BC section Alberta Bison Control Area, west of the Hay-Zama herd range Alberta, Hay-Zama herd home range area Back to top Posters 11 x 17 inch poster distributed at lodges, gas stations, restaurants along the BC portion of the Alaska Highway. Developed by the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program and Public Works and Government Services Canada Distribution began in December 2007 Distributed through Post Office Boxes to residents in Hay-Zama area.
An executive summary of the current Yukon Bison Management Plan is available on the Government of Yukon website. An updated Yukon Bison Management Plan is currently being prepared and is scheduled to be available for consultative review by August 2008.
Alberta Mitchell, J.A. and Gates, C.C. 2002. Status of the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, and Alberta Conservation Association, Wildlife Status Report No. 39, Edmonton, AB. 32 pp. British Columbia BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. This a source for authoritative conservation information on approximately 6000 plants and animals, and almost 600 ecological communities (ecosystems) in British Columbia. Accessed at < http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/reports.do?index=228 > Harper, W.L., J.P. Elliott, I. Hatter, and H. Schwantje. 2000. Management Plan for Wood Bison in British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. 43 pp. Back to top Publications Selected publications on Wood Bison in Northwestern Canada. Boyd, D.P. 2003. Conservation of North American Bison: Status and Recommendations. Thesis. University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Gardner, C.L., and A.R. DeGange. 2003. A Review of Information on Wood Bison in Alaska and Adjacent Canada, with Particular Reference to the Yukon Flats. Accessed June 5, 2008 at <http://soundswild.alaska.gov/management/game/wood_bison/appendix_a.pdf > Harper, W. L., and C.C. Gates. 2000. Recovery of Wood Bison in British Columbia. In: Darling, L.M. (ed). Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Habitat and Species at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb. 1999, Vol. 2, B.C. Ministry of Environment. p. 915-924. Jensen, O. C., Nishi, J., Cool, N.L., Poll, D. and H. W. Reynolds. 2004. Assessing Suitable and Critical Habitat for Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing: Preliminary Results. In: Hooper, T.D. (ed). Proceedings of the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference. 2-6 Mar. 2004, Victoria, B.C. Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference Organizing Committee, Victoria, B.C. 18 pp. Larter, N.C., A.R.E. Sinclair, T. Ellsworth, J. Nishi and C.C. Gates. 2000. Dynamics of reintroduction in an indigenous large ungulate: the wood bison of northern Canada. Anim. Conserv. 4: 299-309. Larter, N.C., Nishi, J.S., Ellsworth, T., Johnson, D., More, G., and D.G. Allaire. 2003. Observations of Wood Bison Swimming Across the Liard River, Northwest Territories, Canada. Arctic Vol. 56. No. 4: 408-412. Larter, N.C., Allaire, D.G., and T.S. Jung. 2007. Population Survey of the Nahanni Wood Bison Population. March 2004. Manuscript Report No. 176. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/PDF/176.pdf > Larter N.C. and D.G. Allaire. 2007. History and Current Status of the Nahanni Wood Bison Population. File report 136. 44 pp. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/FileReports/FileReports/136.htm > McFarlane (Zitlau), K., Wilson, G.A., and J.S. Nishi. 2006. Management Strategies for Conservation of Genetic Diversity in Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae). File Report No. 135. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/PDF/135.pdf > Mitchell, J.A., Gates, C.C., Rowell, R., and K. Lloyd. 2000. A Decision Support Tool for Managing the Risk of Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in Northern Canada. In: Darling L.M. (ed). Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Habitat and Species at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb. 1999, Vol. 2, B.C. Ministry of Environment. pp. 173-178. Nishi, J.S. 2002. Surveillance Activities under the Northwest Territories Bison Control Area Program (1987-2000). Manuscript Report No. 145. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/ManuscriptReports/pdf/145.pdf > Redburn, M.J., Strong, W.L., and C.C.Gates. 2008. Suitability of boreal mixedwood clearcuts as wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) foraging habitat in north-central Alberta, Canada. Forest Ecology and Management 255: Issue 7, p. 2225-2235. Reynolds, H.W., C.C. Gates, and R.D. Glaholt. 2003. Bison (Bison bison). Pages 1009-1060, in Feldhammer, G.A., B.C. Thompson, and J.A. Chapman. eds. Wild Mammals of North America. Biology, Management, and Conservation. second Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore and London. 1216 pp. Stephenson, B., Rogers, R. R., and Hunter, A. 2007. Wood Bison Restoration in Alaska: A Review of Environmental and Regulatory Issues and Proposed Decisions for Project Implementation. Division of Wildlife Conservation. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. 103 pp. Accessed June 5, 2008 at this web address Strong, W.L., and C.C. Gates. 2008. Wood bison population recovery and forage availability in northwestern Canada. Journal of Environmental Management, In Press, Corrected Proof. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18191321 > Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. 2000. Bison in British Columbia: Ecology, Conservation and Management. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Victoria. B.C. Canada. 5 pp. Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2002. Wildlife in British Columbia At Risk: Wood Bison. B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Victoria, B.C. Canada. 5 pp. Back to top Bison Vehicle Collision Reporting The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in the Northwest Territories has developed a Bison Collision Report, and developed policies and protocol on reporting, dispatching and disposing of bison involved in vehicle collisions where natural recovery is not possible. The report also contains instructions on collecting biological samples, where required. View the Bison Vehicle Collision Report and Procedures Protocol Bibliography A bibliography of information relating to Wood Bison and the Northwest Territories Wood Bison Control Area is available on the Northwest Territories Bison Control Area website. Projects British Columbia Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) staff are using the Otto Wildlife device to record Wood Bison carcasses and live sightings along the road. The Otto Wildlife is a portable GPS-based device that can record Points of Interest (POI). Data collected are date, time, latitude, longitude, species (choice of 20), and dead or alive. The data can be exported in a CSV format (comma separated value) to the user's PC for processing in Excel, Access or GIS programs. This will enable PWGSC and ICBC to map locations delineating collision hot spots and to map herd locations in order to assist in providing timely warnings to motorists. Otto Wildlife Photo courtesy of PERSENTECH Highway Signs Wildlife warning signs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. An effective wildlife warning sign is one that conveys the danger that the animal poses to the motorist, not merely the presence of the animal on the road. Static wildlife warning signs - ones that are in the same place day in and day out, year in and year out - are not effective. Some studies show that high percentages of motorists do not even notice those types of signs. They fade into the landscape. To be effective, wildlife warning signs, need to be in place when the hazard is high, and removed when the hazard is lower. Seasonal signage, non-traditional messages, moveable signage, variable message boards, and hinged signs that can be covered up and uncovered as required, are all ways to make signage more noticeable. This is not intended to be a complete inventory of all bison warning signs. If you know of a sign that is not represented here, please contact the Bison and Roads Steering Committee. Back to top Highway Sign Jurisdiction Designed for use on Alaska Highway in BC; not in use as yet. Standard Bison Warning Sign used on British Columbia highways where BC Ministry of Transportation has jurisdiction Billboard on the Alaska Highway, British Columbia, developed by the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program. 10 feet x 20 feet Billboard on the Alaska Highway, British Columbia, developed by the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program 10 feet x 20 feet Alaska Unknown Unknown Colorado Yukon Alaska Highway, BC section Alaska Highway, BC section Alberta Bison Control Area, west of the Hay-Zama herd range Alberta, Hay-Zama herd home range area
Mitchell, J.A. and Gates, C.C. 2002. Status of the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, and Alberta Conservation Association, Wildlife Status Report No. 39, Edmonton, AB. 32 pp.
British Columbia BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. This a source for authoritative conservation information on approximately 6000 plants and animals, and almost 600 ecological communities (ecosystems) in British Columbia. Accessed at < http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/reports.do?index=228 > Harper, W.L., J.P. Elliott, I. Hatter, and H. Schwantje. 2000. Management Plan for Wood Bison in British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. 43 pp. Back to top Publications Selected publications on Wood Bison in Northwestern Canada. Boyd, D.P. 2003. Conservation of North American Bison: Status and Recommendations. Thesis. University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Gardner, C.L., and A.R. DeGange. 2003. A Review of Information on Wood Bison in Alaska and Adjacent Canada, with Particular Reference to the Yukon Flats. Accessed June 5, 2008 at <http://soundswild.alaska.gov/management/game/wood_bison/appendix_a.pdf > Harper, W. L., and C.C. Gates. 2000. Recovery of Wood Bison in British Columbia. In: Darling, L.M. (ed). Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Habitat and Species at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb. 1999, Vol. 2, B.C. Ministry of Environment. p. 915-924. Jensen, O. C., Nishi, J., Cool, N.L., Poll, D. and H. W. Reynolds. 2004. Assessing Suitable and Critical Habitat for Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing: Preliminary Results. In: Hooper, T.D. (ed). Proceedings of the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference. 2-6 Mar. 2004, Victoria, B.C. Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference Organizing Committee, Victoria, B.C. 18 pp. Larter, N.C., A.R.E. Sinclair, T. Ellsworth, J. Nishi and C.C. Gates. 2000. Dynamics of reintroduction in an indigenous large ungulate: the wood bison of northern Canada. Anim. Conserv. 4: 299-309. Larter, N.C., Nishi, J.S., Ellsworth, T., Johnson, D., More, G., and D.G. Allaire. 2003. Observations of Wood Bison Swimming Across the Liard River, Northwest Territories, Canada. Arctic Vol. 56. No. 4: 408-412. Larter, N.C., Allaire, D.G., and T.S. Jung. 2007. Population Survey of the Nahanni Wood Bison Population. March 2004. Manuscript Report No. 176. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/PDF/176.pdf > Larter N.C. and D.G. Allaire. 2007. History and Current Status of the Nahanni Wood Bison Population. File report 136. 44 pp. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/FileReports/FileReports/136.htm > McFarlane (Zitlau), K., Wilson, G.A., and J.S. Nishi. 2006. Management Strategies for Conservation of Genetic Diversity in Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae). File Report No. 135. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/PDF/135.pdf > Mitchell, J.A., Gates, C.C., Rowell, R., and K. Lloyd. 2000. A Decision Support Tool for Managing the Risk of Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in Northern Canada. In: Darling L.M. (ed). Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Habitat and Species at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb. 1999, Vol. 2, B.C. Ministry of Environment. pp. 173-178. Nishi, J.S. 2002. Surveillance Activities under the Northwest Territories Bison Control Area Program (1987-2000). Manuscript Report No. 145. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/ManuscriptReports/pdf/145.pdf > Redburn, M.J., Strong, W.L., and C.C.Gates. 2008. Suitability of boreal mixedwood clearcuts as wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) foraging habitat in north-central Alberta, Canada. Forest Ecology and Management 255: Issue 7, p. 2225-2235. Reynolds, H.W., C.C. Gates, and R.D. Glaholt. 2003. Bison (Bison bison). Pages 1009-1060, in Feldhammer, G.A., B.C. Thompson, and J.A. Chapman. eds. Wild Mammals of North America. Biology, Management, and Conservation. second Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore and London. 1216 pp. Stephenson, B., Rogers, R. R., and Hunter, A. 2007. Wood Bison Restoration in Alaska: A Review of Environmental and Regulatory Issues and Proposed Decisions for Project Implementation. Division of Wildlife Conservation. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. 103 pp. Accessed June 5, 2008 at this web address Strong, W.L., and C.C. Gates. 2008. Wood bison population recovery and forage availability in northwestern Canada. Journal of Environmental Management, In Press, Corrected Proof. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18191321 > Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. 2000. Bison in British Columbia: Ecology, Conservation and Management. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Victoria. B.C. Canada. 5 pp. Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2002. Wildlife in British Columbia At Risk: Wood Bison. B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Victoria, B.C. Canada. 5 pp. Back to top Bison Vehicle Collision Reporting The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in the Northwest Territories has developed a Bison Collision Report, and developed policies and protocol on reporting, dispatching and disposing of bison involved in vehicle collisions where natural recovery is not possible. The report also contains instructions on collecting biological samples, where required. View the Bison Vehicle Collision Report and Procedures Protocol Bibliography A bibliography of information relating to Wood Bison and the Northwest Territories Wood Bison Control Area is available on the Northwest Territories Bison Control Area website. Projects British Columbia Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) staff are using the Otto Wildlife device to record Wood Bison carcasses and live sightings along the road. The Otto Wildlife is a portable GPS-based device that can record Points of Interest (POI). Data collected are date, time, latitude, longitude, species (choice of 20), and dead or alive. The data can be exported in a CSV format (comma separated value) to the user's PC for processing in Excel, Access or GIS programs. This will enable PWGSC and ICBC to map locations delineating collision hot spots and to map herd locations in order to assist in providing timely warnings to motorists. Otto Wildlife Photo courtesy of PERSENTECH
BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. This a source for authoritative conservation information on approximately 6000 plants and animals, and almost 600 ecological communities (ecosystems) in British Columbia. Accessed at
< http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/reports.do?index=228 >
Harper, W.L., J.P. Elliott, I. Hatter, and H. Schwantje. 2000. Management Plan for Wood Bison in British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. 43 pp.
Back to top
Selected publications on Wood Bison in Northwestern Canada.
Boyd, D.P. 2003. Conservation of North American Bison: Status and Recommendations. Thesis. University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Gardner, C.L., and A.R. DeGange. 2003. A Review of Information on Wood Bison in Alaska and Adjacent Canada, with Particular Reference to the Yukon Flats. Accessed June 5, 2008 at
<http://soundswild.alaska.gov/management/game/wood_bison/appendix_a.pdf >
Harper, W. L., and C.C. Gates. 2000. Recovery of Wood Bison in British Columbia. In: Darling, L.M. (ed). Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Habitat and Species at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb. 1999, Vol. 2, B.C. Ministry of Environment. p. 915-924.
Jensen, O. C., Nishi, J., Cool, N.L., Poll, D. and H. W. Reynolds. 2004. Assessing Suitable and Critical Habitat for Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing: Preliminary Results. In: Hooper, T.D. (ed). Proceedings of the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference. 2-6 Mar. 2004, Victoria, B.C. Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference Organizing Committee, Victoria, B.C. 18 pp.
Larter, N.C., A.R.E. Sinclair, T. Ellsworth, J. Nishi and C.C. Gates. 2000. Dynamics of reintroduction in an indigenous large ungulate: the wood bison of northern Canada. Anim. Conserv. 4: 299-309.
Larter, N.C., Nishi, J.S., Ellsworth, T., Johnson, D., More, G., and D.G. Allaire. 2003. Observations of Wood Bison Swimming Across the Liard River, Northwest Territories, Canada. Arctic Vol. 56. No. 4: 408-412.
Larter, N.C., Allaire, D.G., and T.S. Jung. 2007. Population Survey of the Nahanni Wood Bison Population. March 2004. Manuscript Report No. 176.
Accessed June 5, 2008 at
< http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/PDF/176.pdf >
Larter N.C. and D.G. Allaire. 2007. History and Current Status of the Nahanni Wood Bison Population. File report 136. 44 pp. Accessed June 5, 2008 at
< http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/FileReports/FileReports/136.htm > McFarlane (Zitlau), K., Wilson, G.A., and J.S. Nishi. 2006. Management Strategies for Conservation of Genetic Diversity in Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae). File Report No. 135. Accessed June 5, 2008 at
< http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/PDF/135.pdf >
Mitchell, J.A., Gates, C.C., Rowell, R., and K. Lloyd. 2000. A Decision Support Tool for Managing the Risk of Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in Northern Canada. In: Darling L.M. (ed). Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Habitat and Species at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb. 1999, Vol. 2, B.C. Ministry of Environment. pp. 173-178.
Nishi, J.S. 2002. Surveillance Activities under the Northwest Territories Bison Control Area Program (1987-2000). Manuscript Report No. 145.
< http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/ManuscriptReports/pdf/145.pdf >
Redburn, M.J., Strong, W.L., and C.C.Gates. 2008. Suitability of boreal mixedwood clearcuts as wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) foraging habitat in north-central Alberta, Canada. Forest Ecology and Management 255: Issue 7, p. 2225-2235.
Reynolds, H.W., C.C. Gates, and R.D. Glaholt. 2003. Bison (Bison bison). Pages 1009-1060, in Feldhammer, G.A., B.C. Thompson, and J.A. Chapman. eds. Wild Mammals of North America. Biology, Management, and Conservation. second Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore and London. 1216 pp.
Stephenson, B., Rogers, R. R., and Hunter, A. 2007. Wood Bison Restoration in Alaska: A Review of Environmental and Regulatory Issues and Proposed Decisions for Project Implementation. Division of Wildlife Conservation. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. 103 pp. Accessed June 5, 2008 at this web address
Strong, W.L., and C.C. Gates. 2008. Wood bison population recovery and forage availability in northwestern Canada. Journal of Environmental Management, In Press, Corrected Proof. Accessed June 5, 2008 at < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18191321 >
Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. 2000. Bison in British Columbia: Ecology, Conservation and Management. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Victoria. B.C. Canada. 5 pp.
Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2002. Wildlife in British Columbia At Risk: Wood Bison. B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Victoria, B.C. Canada. 5 pp.
The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in the Northwest Territories has developed a Bison Collision Report, and developed policies and protocol on reporting, dispatching and disposing of bison involved in vehicle collisions where natural recovery is not possible. The report also contains instructions on collecting biological samples, where required.
View the Bison Vehicle Collision Report and Procedures Protocol
A bibliography of information relating to Wood Bison and the Northwest Territories Wood Bison Control Area is available on the Northwest Territories Bison Control Area website.
British Columbia
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) staff are using the Otto Wildlife device to record Wood Bison carcasses and live sightings along the road. The Otto Wildlife is a portable GPS-based device that can record Points of Interest (POI). Data collected are date, time, latitude, longitude, species (choice of 20), and dead or alive.
The data can be exported in a CSV format (comma separated value) to the user's PC for processing in Excel, Access or GIS programs.
This will enable PWGSC and ICBC to map locations delineating collision hot spots and to map herd locations in order to assist in providing timely warnings to motorists.
Otto Wildlife
Photo courtesy of PERSENTECH
Wildlife warning signs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. An effective wildlife warning sign is one that conveys the danger that the animal poses to the motorist, not merely the presence of the animal on the road.
Static wildlife warning signs - ones that are in the same place day in and day out, year in and year out - are not effective. Some studies show that high percentages of motorists do not even notice those types of signs. They fade into the landscape.
To be effective, wildlife warning signs, need to be in place when the hazard is high, and removed when the hazard is lower. Seasonal signage, non-traditional messages, moveable signage, variable message boards, and hinged signs that can be covered up and uncovered as required, are all ways to make signage more noticeable.
This is not intended to be a complete inventory of all bison warning signs. If you know of a sign that is not represented here, please contact the Bison and Roads Steering Committee.
Highway Sign
Jurisdiction
Designed for use on Alaska Highway in BC; not in use as yet.
Standard Bison Warning Sign used on British Columbia highways where BC Ministry of Transportation has jurisdiction
Billboard on the Alaska Highway, British Columbia, developed by the Wildlife Collision
Prevention Program.
10 feet x 20 feet
Prevention Program
Alaska
Unknown
Colorado
Yukon
Alaska Highway, BC section
Alberta Bison Control Area, west of the Hay-Zama herd range
Alberta, Hay-Zama herd
home range area
11 x 17 inch poster distributed at lodges, gas stations, restaurants along the BC portion of the Alaska Highway.
Developed by the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program and Public Works and Government Services Canada
Distribution began in December 2007
Distributed through Post Office Boxes to residents in Hay-Zama area.
Back to top Newspaper Ads In the Hay-Zama area in Alberta, this newspaper ad ran in the local papers. Rest Stop Signs Still under design by the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program. Planned placement is at Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park. Back to top
In the Hay-Zama area in Alberta, this newspaper ad ran in the local papers.
Still under design by the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program.
Planned placement is at Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park.
Did you learn something new? Do you have a wildlife-vehicle accident story to share? Is this type of public education and awareness necessary?
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