Updated: Fri Jan. 27 2012 17:57:04

ctvcalgary.ca

Ottawa is looking to return a familiar face to Banff National Park.

At an announcement Friday morning, Environment Minister Peter Kent provided details on a public consultation process for the reintroduction of the bison into Banff.

A representative with Alberta Sustainable Resources said they are welcoming the news and they're very interested to see how they will keep the herds in place in the park.

For more information on the reintroduction of Plains Bison to Banff National Park visit Bison Belong.

Comments are now closed for this story

Bev.
Bison are no more dangerous than any other animal, it is the people who don't act as if they are in animal territory who are most likely to get hurt. I have walked amoung the bison at Elk Island Park without a problem. I was cautious but had no problem what so ever. I did tell the kids to move slowly and get in the car though. I've also been up close to them at Waterton with no problems. I would rather see the bison in the park then to see the drunk campers and hear loud sound systems.
As they say "Stop and smell the roses" or in this case see the things of nature. The bison will likely go into the vallies in winter if allowed to move freely within the park. As long as they don't roam into town there should be few problems.

CINDYLOU
I only hope 'parks canada' has the plan well thought out before bringing the bison back, and BOB that is the #1 Highway the main highway west to east. Having people stopping willy nilly to watch wildlife is jut NOT Safe!

bob
The problem cindylou is when people forget it is a national park they are driving through. It is not a typical highway. To me it is the same as getting mad at someone who stops to look at something at the zoo because you are just there for a walk.

Long term solution is to have a ring road around these parks for people who don't care about them and have a speed limit in the parks for those who do.

Susan
It will be good to see the bison back in Banff National Park. There are many people who have never seen the live animals and this would give them a chance to do so.

Bev, when the park had bison before, the bison were kept in a special drive through enclosure near the highway and, at the same time, protected them from traffic and predators.

Joe
After 40 years of construction they're finally almost done wrapping up the transcanada highway upgrade in Banff. They've done an excellent job with wildlife fencing and lots of animal overpasses and underpasses. Even environmental groups were shocked at how well thought out the upgrades were done. This will make it possible to add Bison safely.

Bison are cool and naturally belong in the park (certainly more than golf courses and vacation houses)

Cindylou
It is fine to view the wild life, but when you hold up traffic because of it you are causing a hazard. so Bev as long as you stay off the road to view wild life I'm fine with that.

Tom
The long term plan will be to feed them in the winter, there is no grass in the mountain parks, there are plains bison and wood bison, not mountain! If a long term project would like some solid ground, to get an everlasting start, try the military range north of Medicine Hat, that would be where they came from. The Calgary Stampede had no problem keeping thier bison enclosed with a 3 wire fence for years, south of Hanna!

Allie
Look forward to seeing the bison back in the park.

John
Good comment Bev. I feel the same way about this. Its great to be able to undo a mistake made in the past. Seldom in life do we get that chance, so to see the comeback of the Plains Bison (Buffalo) and to have the space to set them free is somehow freeing to us as well. Set them free and allow us to stop and watch them when they are nearby.

Bob
I'm so happy to hear this. It seemed crazy when they removed them. It didn't make sense to me since I knew Elk Is Park was fenced (main criteria for removal). Visitors and residents alike enjoy this big beasts!

Liv
I think it's a great idea ... beautiful animals! If only there was a way to save more of the animals we keep pushing out of their natural environment!

Bill T.
One only has to look to Yellowstone to see the problems that come with buffalo. They destroy neighboring ranchers hay, fences and spread disease. More people are killed and hurt by buffalo in Yellowstone than any other animal. They are far more dangerous than any predator.

Bev
The biggest obstacle will be people who want to go zooming through the park without concern for the wildlife and the reason for the park. Also wildlife officers who think that their primary job is to keep traffic moving. Many of us still visit the parks in hope of seeing the wildlife (not the wild party goers)and forcing us to move along instead of viewing the animals when they are around defeats that purpose. The Parks are a great place to teach the younger folf about nature and the animals that live in it. As for keeping the bison in the park much of that kind of control will come from using cattle gates and fencing where needed.
It will be nice to see them back as long as they are permitted to roam freely within the park and not held in a paddock.