Buffalo National Park
Encyclopedia
Buffalo National Park was created near the town of Wainwright
in east central Alberta
on June 5, 1909, closed in 1940, and delisted in 1947 when the land was transferred to the Department of National Defence
. The 583 km² (225.1 sq mi) park land now comprises the majority of Canadian Forces Base Wainwright
. The first Park Warden was Bud Cotton, who served from 1912 through 1940.
Buffalo National Park, with a focus on Plains Bison
(often referred to as buffalo), was one of several national parks created in the Canadian Prairies
expressly to protect and regenerate dangerously low populations of bison and Pronghorns
. Other 'regeneration' parks, also delisted in 1947, included Wawaskesy National Park
, Nemiskam National Park
(both in Alberta), and Menissawok National Park
in Saskatchewan
.
Buffalo National Park was populated by the Canadian government with a herd of roughly 700 bison, purchased from the Flathead Reservation in Montana
, USA. The herd was transported to the new park by train. The park also received smaller populations of elk
and moose
. During its thirty one years of activity, the park produced 40,000 bison, 3000 elk, and 300 moose.
The park eventually fell victim to its own success, for as numbers grew, disease and starvation spread among the herd, competing for food on the park's limited space. Sanctioned slaughters in the late 1910's brought public outcry. Culling
continued on an annual basis thereafter, including the transfer or sale of bison to other parks, such as a the 6000 to 7000 head sent to Wood Buffalo National Park
during the 1920s.
With its mission accomplished, the park was closed in 1940. In 1980, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Alberta and the legacy of the former Buffalo National Park, four bison from Elk Island National Park
were moved to the town of Wainwright. Today, about a dozen bison reside there in Bud Cotton Paddock, named for the first Park Warden.
Wainwright, Alberta
Wainwright is a town on the prairies of east-central Alberta, Canada.It is located on the north side of the Canadian National Railway, with CFB Wainwright located on the southwest side. The town lies south of Vermilion, in the Battle River valley, along Highway 41, called the Buffalo Trail....
in east central Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
on June 5, 1909, closed in 1940, and delisted in 1947 when the land was transferred to the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
. The 583 km² (225.1 sq mi) park land now comprises the majority of Canadian Forces Base Wainwright
CFB Wainwright
Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, commonly referred to as CFB Wainwright is a Canadian Forces Base located in Denwood, Alberta, adjacent to the town of Wainwright.-Military Camp Wainwright:...
. The first Park Warden was Bud Cotton, who served from 1912 through 1940.
Buffalo National Park, with a focus on Plains Bison
Plains Bison
The Plains Bison or Common bison is one of two subspecies/ecotypes of the American Bison, the other being the Wood Bison . Furthermore, it has been suggested that the Plains Bison consists of a northern and a southern subspecies, bringing the total to three...
(often referred to as buffalo), was one of several national parks created in the Canadian Prairies
Canadian Prairies
The Canadian Prairies is a region of Canada, specifically in western Canada, which may correspond to several different definitions, natural or political. Notably, the Prairie provinces or simply the Prairies comprise the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as they are largely covered...
expressly to protect and regenerate dangerously low populations of bison and Pronghorns
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and...
. Other 'regeneration' parks, also delisted in 1947, included Wawaskesy National Park
Wawaskesy National Park
Wawaskesy National Park was created near the South Saskatchewan River, north of the town of Medicine Hat in southeastern Alberta, Canada, in 1922, closed in 1938, and delisted in 1947....
, Nemiskam National Park
Nemiskam National Park
Nemiskam National Park was created north of the former community of Nemiskam in south central Alberta, Canada, in 1922. The park was closed and delisted in 1947. The first Park Superintendent was Edgar McHugh...
(both in Alberta), and Menissawok National Park
Menissawok National Park
Menissawok National Park was a national park established in 1922 southeast of the town of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, in the southwest part of the Canadian province. It closed in 1930, and was delisted in 1947...
in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
Buffalo National Park was populated by the Canadian government with a herd of roughly 700 bison, purchased from the Flathead Reservation in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, USA. The herd was transported to the new park by train. The park also received smaller populations of elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
and moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
. During its thirty one years of activity, the park produced 40,000 bison, 3000 elk, and 300 moose.
The park eventually fell victim to its own success, for as numbers grew, disease and starvation spread among the herd, competing for food on the park's limited space. Sanctioned slaughters in the late 1910's brought public outcry. Culling
Culling
Culling is the process of removing animals from a group based on specific criteria. This is done either to reinforce certain desirable characteristics or to remove certain undesirable characteristics from the group...
continued on an annual basis thereafter, including the transfer or sale of bison to other parks, such as a the 6000 to 7000 head sent to Wood Buffalo National Park
Wood Buffalo National Park
Wood Buffalo National Park, located in northeastern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories, is the largest national park in Canada at . The park was established in 1922 to protect the world's largest herd of free roaming Wood Bison, currently estimated at more than 5,000...
during the 1920s.
With its mission accomplished, the park was closed in 1940. In 1980, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Alberta and the legacy of the former Buffalo National Park, four bison from Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park , is one of 43 national parks and park reserves administered by the Parks Canada Agency. This “island of conservation” is located 35 km east of Edmonton, Alberta along the Yellowhead Highway, which nearly bisects the park...
were moved to the town of Wainwright. Today, about a dozen bison reside there in Bud Cotton Paddock, named for the first Park Warden.
Film Set
- The Last Frontier - 1923
- The Thundering Herd - 1925
- Flaming Frontier - 1926
- The Covered Wagon - ?