Program reintroduces previously-believed extinct wood bison into the U.S.

[@sandramorey2529]

Any time we can re establish a species thought to have gone extinct, it fills me with incredible joy and possible hope that we might be able to save them all and us as well.

[@dave8599]

Yeah, maybe we can reintroduce the raptor dinosaur, and release it next to your children.

[@nelsonhunter-valls3206]

Whoever saves one life, save the world entire.

[@SlayerofFiction]

Don't get too excited, generally speaking it takes 500 individuals to create a genetically diverse, safe herd.

[@YakubibnEsau]

@@dave8599 yeah, reintroduction of wood bison is the same as bringing the velociraptor back.

[@jamessparkman6604]

@@dave8599 That hasn’t been accomplished yet but you can still evolve the Wood bison into prehistoric species of bison and that goes for wolves Rodents and other mammal species

[@willyjilly9684]

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game made the commitment over 20 years ago to return wood bison to their native range in Central-Alaska in partnership with the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, who currently cares for the only captive herd in the United States. Following the state’s acquisition of wood bison and years of careful management by AWCC, 130 wood bison were successfully released into the wild in spring of 2015

[@nicholasfoley7105]

Yes but the numbers id like to know, has the population increased in the wild in those seven years or declined. Would know if its being successful or not.

[@willyjilly9684]

@@nicholasfoley7105 judging by data it appears the population has overall increased in both captivity and in the wild.

[@nicholasfoley7105]

@@willyjilly9684 glad to here its paying off...

[@wasidanatsali6374]

@Nicholas Foley I’ve been following the Alaskan herd and their number stood at 105 after 26 calves survived the 2021-22 winter. The first couple winters were rough on them but they are learning to survive in the wild. 40 more wood bison heifers were introduced into the Alaskan herd in June of this year so their herd number now stands at 145 excluding calves born this year. I followed the GSMNP elk herd reintroduction and it took them several years and a couple introductions to get established. Both the wood bison and elk that were reintroduced were animals kept in captivity so a big part of the learning curve for them in the wild is becoming adept at dealing with predators. Over time in the wild the cows become much more skilled at evading predators during calving season and protecting their young from predators in general.

[@thomascollins6815]

They should be released in more places than just Alaska. They would fill an empty ecological niche in many other states. I wish we had them in Michigan.

[@Heartford]

Denying the past perpetuates the same mistakes to be repeated. A species Thousands upon thousands of years does not simply disappear over night. They were led to extinction by killing them

[@johnnytyler5685]

Thanks Sherlock.

[@pmboston]

I noticed that too. Disappeared is a pretty euphemistic way to refer to the slaughter of millions of animals by the wasitchu.

[@pmboston]

@@johnnytyler5685 guess what, if all you knew about bison came from this video, even Sherlock would be hard put to deduce the truth. Watson.

[@johnnytyler5685]

@@pmboston If you are an American who doesn't know what the American people did to the buffalo population in the late 19th century without being told by this video then IDK what to tell you.

[@AhJodie]

@@johnnytyler5685 Not everyone knows they were killed on purpose to starve the Native Americans.

[@mjareacts2731]

It's incredible to see them back, considering the fact they were wiped out at one point. To see an animal that should have been here all along get a second chance brings a tear to my eye.

[@stonedsasquatch]

"Disapeared" that's a mighty nice way of saying systemically slaughtered to destroy the indigenous communities food/life source.

[@solangegarcia536]

I was looking for THIS comment!!! Because

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

They were destroyed for fun, too... They were even hunted from passenger trains - the furs and meat left to rot - while native Americans starved. Gee mommy: is it like Harry Potter? They disappeared? 🧙‍♀️ 🪄

[@IAmTheAnswerer]

Thank you! I was looking for this comment. The lies from this news piece are unbelievable.

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

@@IAmTheAnswerer Nope. Only that slight distortion. Don't go overboard! 😯

[@brooklynnchick]

Thank you for speaking the truth! I may be white but I am not delusional about how my European ancestors broke every human and animal rights.

[@kenc2257]

This is wonderful. Those folks are doing outstanding work.

[@ninamoler1880]

This is the sort of reporting we need. Thank you so much for giving us agency-we can see how we can help and how something is already being done! Links to ways to assist would be even better.

[@egosumhomovespertilionem]

Neat story, and kudos to the naturalists and wildlife officers for their hard work and dedication to this project. The reintroduction of a nearly extinct species to the wild, especially a kingpin species such as the wood bison, is something approaching miraculous. Hopefully, all Americans will be better stewards of these native American animals in the future. And I would love to see greater involvement of native Americans in these projects because of the historical importance of these animals to their ancient cultures.

[@vickimeyers2672]

The Alaska Native tribe in that area of Alaska are monitoring and involved in the care of the herd of wood bison.

[@22espec]

Next you would hear ranchers complaining about bringing those competing animals next to their cattle.

[@rb239rtr]

I grew up in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, next to Wood Buffalo National Park. The park rangers would take us on Buffalo creeps, where you would crawl within a few feet of the buffalo. Amazing animals.

[@garryferrington811]

They are, even if they are actually bison.

[@d1specdrifter]

North america never had buffalo . They are bison..

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I've never even heard of this subspecies before. Thanks for educating us on this incredible beast.

[@jeffbowers950]

Saw hundreds of these in the wild in 2018. Beautiful animals to watch.

[@vickimeyers2672]

The first herd reintroduced to Alaska in 2015 was released when there was snow on the ground. I always picture bison being herded by horseback. It was strange to see them being herded by people riding snowmachines. This herd is a boon to Alaska. We're glad to have them here!

[@JohnnyAngel8]

A little side comment: IMHO, Jeff Glor and Jane Paulie are two of the best CBS journalists/reporters. They have calm demeanors and have the right amount of gravitas to announce news. I enjoyed both whenever they hosted the evening news. It's unfortunate that CBS did not keep them on the nightly news programs. Networks now look for ratings and money instead of good journalism and reporting skills as in the past.

[@alanhelton]

Thank you for keeping this species alive!

[@urbanlegendsandtrivia2023]

I would have really loved to have seen the looks on the faces of those wildlife biologists when they stumbled upon the herd of what they thought were extinct bison in 1957. It must have been like when people first see dinosaurs in the movies.

[@catherinesanchez1185]

I know right??? It must have been a lot of OMG! OMG! It can't be, take a picture ! hurry up!! Are you sure ?? YES , it is!! Just imaging the excitement.

[@kimnenninger7226]

This is really great. I am so glad that some people can think to the future and appreciate the affect that each species of animal brings to the Earth's well being. A sick environment breeds sick people.

[@harvestcanada]

Except these bison knew the earth was spoiled that's why the remaining population of bison migrated to Canada. It is quite telling that Amerikkka has to air lift these creatures back because bison, bears and wolves know instinctively that there is nothing left for them to return to. All they are now are exhibits in an open air zoo.☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

[@chipthomas4169]

No, the last set of this subspecies were NATIVE to far northern Alberta. They lived in a wooded swampy area remote from man.

[@aquariusmoon771]

"...until they disappeared." You mean until their species was HUNTED TO DEATH. Please don't gloss over that fact.

[@usnchief1339]

not hunted, exterminated as a food source.

[@Thornbeard]

@@usnchief1339 not as a food source at all. Here in Alaska the Russians hunted them to extinction for the heavy fur pelts.

[@vashsunglasses]

@@Thornbeard You misunderstand, not exterminated for food, exterminated to prevent the indigenous population from using them for food. They committed genocide against the bison to commit genocide against indigenous people.

[@rarekeelijo13]

They totally circumvented “how” they disappeared, as if they just walked off into the void. Great job CBS 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@342josevargas]

Hahahaha I was like yeah so we’re just not going to come out and say what happened? Even the guy helping the bison from start didn’t want to say anything! Lol let’s just not bring up the past

[@anthonyridgewood2509]

Doesn’t everybody kind of already know? If it goes without saying, it’s ok to not say it

[@nam34mich18]

Lol must be against CRT lol

[@dorksplorer]

Have to be careful not to offend certain people who seem to be incapable of handling difficult truths. 🕊️

[@babagandu]

¡Viva Nexico!

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

These bison didn't magically "disappear" as this video stated. They were *massacred for fun* by "sport" hunters. Restoring herds of these animals is the least we should do - to show respect for native Americans and the bison themselves.

[@yahoshaphat5670]

You mean white peoples

[@NotYoung3592]

Natives also massacred them, humans always play a part in disappearances....

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

@@NotYoung3592 Natives ate them for food as needed. A whole 'nuther attitude. 🍎 vs. 🍊

[@yahoshaphat5670]

For Sam the liar my prior statement

[@NotYoung3592]

@@Austin8thGenTexan Everyone thinks Natives were so saintly and they were not any better or worse. They ran animals like bison off cliffs resulting in massive kills so they could harvest one ot two for the winter.

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

Them Bison are tuff...tuff as anything ever... great to know they're still around! Awesome

[@theseventhgeneration6910]

The best story I've heard in years. Many years.

[@snowmiaow]

Brought tears to my eyes.

[@RealBradMiller]

Bravo!! That was an amazing little video.

[@darthsigil]

“Until they disappeared”… LMAO What denial!

[@terrynewsome6698]

It might be hard for people to digest that they were nearly wiped out for their tough and hides.

[@tracyjacoby2382]

Majestic is the word that popped into my mind also magnificient and beautiful!🥰 Love your story & Alaskan Wildlife people, they are my heros!!🤗💕

[@robertafierro5592]

I am so glad that tiny hears was found in Canada!

[@hollyholy641]

@5:35 Watching city folk small talk about wildlife is friggin’ hilarious 😂 😂

[@tinkerstrade3553]

I live in the mountains of west central Arkansas. We call them folks flatlanders, 'cause we have at least one a year fall off a nearby mountain, for no apparent reason.

[@hollyholy641]

@@tinkerstrade3553 That. Is. Hilarious!!!! They fall off the mountain because it’s not “their native working space.”😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@rebeccamartin2399]

@@tinkerstrade3553 That also happens in Colorado every year.

[@michaelram9426]

Thank You For Your Great Work!!!

[@TheRAYviewYT]

Alaska wildlife center is such an amazing place to visit! Please check it out, if you are ever in Alaska

[@billjones5196]

It was a Tourist trap from the day it was built, Born and raised in Alaska. The worst thing that ever happened was the damn tourist.

[@IcefisherTenacity]

@@billjones5196 it got me… sorry

[@robertsmith1860]

In the 1990s myself & others volunteered to assist working at the Bison Paddock in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, which is run by Fleishhacker Zoo & maintained by SF City & County Park & Recreation Department. We named our volunteer group, “Bison Watch”, and worked the 1st Saturday of every month at the paddock by pulling as many weeds as we could, in order for grasses to grow for the Bison to feed naturally. The Zoo workers would herd them all into a smaller paddock, while we performed our work with tools & wheelbarrows supplied by Park & Rec. Our Leader was Phil Carlton (Buffalo Phil), who also was instrumental with involving local Indigenous Peoples with the group… performing Ceremonies and speaking at events. The Love and Respect that I experienced with the 12 Bison and group members have changed my life by discovering Mother Nature as my Higher Power. I hope to travel to Canada soon to experience the Wood Bison species that I was unaware of until I viewed this wonderful video. My thanks to all of you who have devoted their energies to helping these Bison continue & increase their herds due to your efforts. Yours - BanjoBob

[@rong-man1502]

Hey banjo. You and your cohorts did what; pulled weeds? As P. T. Barnum once said: “There’s a sucker born every minute”!

[@jacobedward2401]

That's amazing 1:18 lol big pause before "until they disappeared". So there was no reason for that extinction, ey?

[@pamjacot5801]

You guys are fantastic 😊☺️😊

[@DrPhill96]

Some hunted them for food and clothing. Some hunted them for fun and vindictiveness.

[@pjmlegrande]

I wouldn’t use the verb “hunt” for the latter category.

[@DrPhill96]

@ - I didn’t, I used “hunted”.

[@patticake4566]

What a satisfying job to have. Great work.

[@rickysain4959]

Wonderful Program, rewarding Job

[@carolweideman1905]

You know there are 11,000 of them in Canada that live in the wild.

[@angelinimartini]

Thank you for doing these reports CBS

[@taylorfrink1182]

way to avoid saying why the wood bison population got decimated (uhhhh hint it was humans being terrible) we gotta talk about the past to avoid repeating it. happy we are rebuilding their herds/communities though

[@V.Hansen.]

Decimated means reducing by 1/10th. It was way worse than decimation. ( I know it’s a little pedantic)

[@brute9867]

This story lifts my spirit! 🙏🏻

[@jacquelynh1564]

Disappeared? Is this ‘new history’?

[@theoldhunter6090]

Dr. Parsons of Stratford, Oklahoma is the world's leading expert on bison. He has worked with this herd and most every herd in the world including the European herds. He told me about this Alaskan herd several years ago when I bought my herd from him.

[@4sstg]

The slaughter of the bison by governments will forever be a disgrace to those governments.

[@johnnyphoenix1223]

Don’t touch the fluffy cow’s lol

[@iwasadeum]

Just visited this place the other week. Beautiful setting, and a great facility!

[@Jean-tt6on]

Beautiful

[@mytwocents848]

What a great, life fulfilling job! Wish I was younger and could do this.

[@stonedsasquatch]

"Disapeared" bison is like saying Africans just APPEARED in the country one day

[@chatroombully]

We were actually here before Columbus. Keep studying 😏

[@stonedsasquatch]

@@chatroombully Africans? Or indigenous? The Indigenous have been proven to be in the America's at least 16,000 years before the bearing straight would have been passable. Wtf did I say anything about Columbus? First off HE NEVER MADE IT HERE so...

[@stonedsasquatch]

@@chatroombully you really thought you were sick with that one huh kiddo? Fell flat on your face

[@butchbinion1560]

Thanks, way to go. ✌🏻👊

[@thefisherking78]

AWESOME. Keep supporting them!

[@vivalaleta]

Does this stage have a plastic wood floor??

[@JB-tr6nu]

Nature's wonder's showing their resilience Beautiful ❤

[@jamess.2649]

Just an amazing story heartfelt

[@StitchTheFox]

Disappeared? No we SLAUGHTERED them all and left their carcasses to rot on the ground. The least we can do is keep these guys around.

[@ParanoidAlaskan]

Uh, what? Wood Bison were already reintroduced from captive populations in Alaska almost a decade ago.

[@Roarmeister2]

Yes, the reporting is way behind the times...

[@mtn1793]

So what’s the difference between these “wood bison” and the bison that were saved from extinction in Yellowstone and Montana? Where was their original range?

[@siervodedios5952]

From what I understand the Bison in Montana, Yellowstone and the overall western United States are the Plains bison while the ones in Canada and Alaska are the Woods bison. I could be wrong though so don't quote me on that.

[@mtn1793]

@@siervodedios5952 You’re correct. I googled it after making the comment. I think there was a third subspecies too which lived through the forests eastward to the Appalachian mountains. It got wiped out early on by European expansion. That’s what had me confused about “Woods” bison. I didn’t find much about the eastern herds though.

[@vickimeyers2672]

Wood bison's physical characteristics differ slightly from plains bison.

[@Roarmeister2]

Wood Bison are larger, heavier with greater beards and bigger shoulder humps. I don't think they were ever south in the US. You are probably thinking of the Plains Bison.

[@snotnosewilly99]

What we needed was the reporter boy standing next to a big male wood bison.

[@scotty6124]

Like how they said the bison "disappeared" which in reality means they were nearly hunted to extinction by human greed.

[@joserosales2865]

Get it Straight, hunted by INVADING SAVAGES, from another land.

[@andibowe6890]

Thank you!!

[@peaceandlove5214]

Bless you all.

[@clydedude]

Wasn't there a subspecies that lived east of Mississippi also?

[@mtn1793]

Yeah. I thought they were the wood bison, a smaller sub species. This isn’t explained very well.

[@uptone12111]

Such good news .Rare these days.Thanks to those putting in the hard work to get them back into their native land

[@RMH7467]

All I know about bison is that they taste better then cow

[@TonyHiggins]

No one in Canada ever thought wood bison to be extinct. Several herds, though small, exist in Elk Island National Park, Wood Buffalo National Park, and adjacent lands. Extensive efforts have been made for years to preserve these herds, and to limit or reverse the unintended mix of their populations with plains bison.

[@earlkiefer515]

I thought they were gone for good nice to see them back

[@犬の大将]

Theodore Roosevelt would be proud.

[@Van-Leo]

"until the 1800's where they then disappeared" boy is that a deep understatement and generalization

[@dwjunior]

I want to cry I’m so happy!!

[@jgc6363]

👍👍awesome job....

[@LisaRucker-x8k]

Thank goodness

[@cmaurice9133]

Outstanding..

[@williamriley5118]

They were hunted to the brink of extinction. That should have been mentioned.

[@PHlophe]

Willie, they "were" ? c'mon c White people slaughtered those animals to extinction .

[@RGressick]

I love how they intentionally left out why the bison "disappeared"

[@Go.el_Hadam]

Leaving out the fact that colonizers killed them all out of pure greed is a big oversight. This was and still is a European capatalist issue.

[@babagandu]

Me sad

[@garryferrington811]

"The pioneers treated this land like they hated it." John Steinbeck

[@jacquetthompson9764]

Oh so they just "disappeared".... like a magic trick? But why did they "disappear"? Tell that history!

[@tinoyb9294]

THANKS, CANADA!

[@eemoogee160]

Rewild our land. Adjust our culture to allow nature to coexist.

[@Demoncorp]

american elephants: is bison. americans: wheres the trunk

[@perrinpartee557]

This is very uplifiting and brings me hope. As a conservation biologist, nothing makes me happier.

[@bryanmcleod9346]

This story gives me Hope!! Not only for the Wood Bison, but its the 1st story in a Long time that isn't FakeNooz, and seems to be TDS free. Salute, and a blue thumb up!!

[@JohnClement-n5m]

I ❤ Jeff Glor :-)

[@shewolf2584]

How awesome! However, if you're going to report something, report the truth, they didn't just "disappear" because they felt like it. They were almost slaughtered into extinction by greedy, sick men, like many other species of animals.

[@beebop9808]

Lest we forget the reasoning behind the madness. The effort to remove the food source for native Americans to drive them out of the way of expansion.

[@shewolf2584]

@@Roarmeister2 Wood Bison are a subspecies of American bison that lived in Alaska for over 400,000 years. They were well-adapted to Alaska's cold temperatures, deep snow, and grassy meadows. Unregulated hunting and habitat changes almost led to their extinction in Alaska by the early 1900s.

[@robertgulfshores4463]

Oh, so the bison "disappeared"? Well, I guess we'll never know what happened to them.

[@mysmallslice6606]

Soooooo…….Why did they disappear in the late 1800’s? CBS glossed over that one.

[@jackx4311]

What a wonderful endeavour!

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

Hold on They just disappeared I need more info

[@priestbrooklyn1094]

Means white men showed up☢️

[@writererbaine]

It was a planned extinction to wipe out the Native American population. Look it up. But CBS can't mention that because this post will get backlash because of public's misconception of Critical Race Theory. Look up CRT too and what it is all about. Look up why did bison become extinct. Funny, I'm Trinidadian and I know more about American History than Americans.

[@priestbrooklyn1094]

@@writererbaine 💯

[@maxmulsanne7054]

Climate change killed them off.

[@priestbrooklyn1094]

@@maxmulsanne7054 🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥

[@allennelson3679]

This makes me feel like there's still hope for our small planet.

[@MrGksarathy]

Now if only the same thing could be done for the bison that used to live east of the Mississippi.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Elk are slowly being reintroduced to many states east of the Mississippi. There is some good there

[@jakemoeller7850]

Beautiful creatures! 💛

[@jackiedunn9404]

It cracks me up when they say something is extinct just because they know how to hide

[@donattashono6985]

Amazing and great news.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

Revival of this species would mean natural grazing and migration across the border less American Midwest

[@vickimeyers2672]

Migrating bison can and do create conflict with cattle ranchers, because bison carry brucellosis, which, when transmitted to cattle, causes miscarriage of calves.

[@baliharsingh2315]

Good bro job

[@ag-bk5wf]

Bison are great to see in person in nature...Oklahoma has a great preserve to visit and see them on the Tallgrass.

[@neeklmamp4955]

It’s so sad that all the wood bison stopped being visible to the human eye

[@justinazure7603]

North America's elephant would still be an elephant ma'am lol

[@BillyAlabama]

Cheers!

[@ptaylor4923]

Friggin' amazing!

[@williammcintyre8570]

Great to see this happening.

[@katherineweber8955]

This is AWESOME!!

[@jafinch78]

Would be neat to be able to farm them for meat and other animal products. Lots a meat on one of those. Wondering how much two would cost (male & female) and the associated costs to grow the population... along with ways to naturally keep those costs down to a minimum?

[@atomicskull6405]

They already farm buffalo for meat. They can live outside without a barn even in winter and eat lower quality feed (basically just hay and grass), but take about twice as long (2.5 years) to reach a suitable size for slaughter. The meat currently is a lot more expensive that beef which combined with the lower care requirements makes them profitable.

[@jafinch78]

@@atomicskull6405 Definitely, I call the meat "medicine meat" since heals me within a day if my body is sore from working hard. Guessing due to the hormones or being grass fed "and" finished. I was meaning farm maybe two for starters to see how I deal with doing. Maybe even harvesting early to get a feel for the whole life cycle processing. Also, "them" being the "woodland" larger breed. Thanks for the insight into some of the process.