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Bison Grazing on Public Land - Overview
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Bison operators now have access to grazing on
Alberta public land under specified conditions.
Amendments to the Public Lands Act, which
change the definition of livestock for public land
grazing to include bison, are now in effect. The
amendments were passed in the Legislature in 2003
following a two-year review of bison grazing by a
Bison Review Committee that included representation
from the range of stakeholders involved, including
the bison and cattle industries and environmental
and hunting groups.
Bison grazing may take place on existing public land
agricultural dispositions (leases, licenses and
permits) with additional written permission from
Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) required in
each case. Bison operators will have requirements
for containing animals and the development of a
management plan.
Fencing
In cooperation with Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development, the University of Calgary has developed
a brochure to assist bison ranchers in selecting a
wildlife-friendly fence design.
The guidelines for fence construction were developed
collaboratively by people representing the following
interests:
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bison industry
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wildlife managers
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rangeland managers
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environmental and conservation groups
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hunting community
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fencing experts
Grazing Management
Operators will have to submit management plans.
Government staff will work with operators on those
plans prior to approving any bison grazing. Plans
will take into account several factors including
multiple uses of the land, fencing, and season of
use. Range health will continue to be a primary
monitoring tool and year round grazing will not be
permitted.
Applications for dispositions that allow bison
grazing may be submitted on existing grazing
dispositions that have not yet been reviewed for
bison grazing. More information can be obtained
from local offices of the Rangeland Management
Branch or from the Rangeland Management Branch in
Edmonton at (780) 427-3595 (310-0000 toll-free).
If you require updated information, contact one of
the offices below:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Lands Division - Rangeland Management Branch
4th Floor - Great West Life Building
9920 – 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4
Telephone: (780) 427-3595
OR
call the Public Lands Division office in your area
OR
visit our website at:
http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/land/index.html
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