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Southwest Region 2
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

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American Bison

Bison on the Wichita Mountains 		A bison mother nurses her calf.

The current bison herd is maintained at approximately 600 animals. Excess animals are sold live at public auction, which is held the fourth Thursday of every October. Since 1907, more than 7,000 animals have been removed from the Refuge by sale or donation in order to preserve the high quality of Wichita grasslands. Most animals sold at auction are purchased by private bison breeders.

Current management consists of habitat monitoring, herd productivity counts to determine the number of calves born each year, roundups in preparation for the annual auction, and various studies including mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evaluations.

Buffalo belong to the cattle family and are subject to some of their diseases. A brucellosis testing program has proven the Wichita herd healthy and free of this viral disease. All sale animals are tested.

These animals are not tame. You are a visitor in their pasture. Do not venture afoot into open pastures close to buffalo. Although they may look clumsy, they are extremely agile and fast. THEY CAN AND WILL CHARGE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING!

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