1

Keith Aune 1 & Thomas Jung 2

1 Wildlife Conservation Society, Bozeman, Montana2 Yukon Department of Environment, Whitehorse, Yukon

Survey of Bison Herd Managers: Genetic Issues and Concerns

• Survey Monkey with 58 questions– 9 categories

• Survey link was emailed to 69 Bison Managers

• 42 Responses (61%)

Who Responded

• 85% managed Plains bison; 15% wood bison

Management Framework

78%

13%

Cattle Gene Introgression

Number of Herds

Managing Cattle Gene Introgression

Cattle Gene Introgression

Rating Average:

3.23

(~Neutral-Agree)

Section 3-Genetic Lineage

Genetic Lineage

Section 4-Mixing Wild and Domestic

Mixing Wild and Domestic

No Herds

Section 5-Mixing Plains and Wood Bison

Mixing Plains and Wood Bison

Section 6-Genetic Management Challenges

Rating Average:

2.66

(~Disagree-Neutral)

Rating Average:

1.92

(~Disagree)

Rating Average:

3.65

(~Agree-Neutral)

Rating Average:

1.74

(~Disagree-Strongly

Disagree)

Rating Average:

3.26

(~Neutral-Agree)

Rating Average:

3.23

(~Neutral-Agree)

Section 7-Other Management Challenges

Rating Average:

2.61

(~Disagree-Neutral)

Rating Average:

2.45

(~Disagree-Neutral)

Rating Average:

3.06

(~Neutral)

Rating Average:

3.26

(~Agree-Neutral)

Rating Average:

3.26

(~Neutral-Agree)

Section 8-Genetic Research

Rating Average:

3.49

(~Neutral-Agree)

Rating Average:

2.79

(~Disagree-Neutral)

Section 9-Recommendations

32

Rating Average:

2.87

(~Neutral-Disagree)

Rating Average:

3.59

(~Agree-Neutral)

34

Rating Average:

2.45

(~Disagree-Neutral)

35

Rating Average:

3.30

(~Neutral-Agree)

36

Rating Average:

2.62

(~Neutral-Disagree)

Summary and Conclusion• There are many views and

management approaches among the bison managers– Is No Continental Approach

• Views are affected by Institutional mission and program

• Planning around this issue is generally wanting

• General agreement that genetics matter—but how they matter varies with manager

• Concerns about diversity, lineage, and integrity are raised

• Identified research and management needs

Thank You!