Letter response to request for bison to be designated wildlife

May 15, 2024

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In response to a joint letter by several environmental groups (Alberta Wilderness Association, Southern Alberta Group for the Environment, Foothills Bison Restoration Society, Canadian Parks and Wildlife Society Northern Alberta and Southern Alberta, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society), Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, responded that the status of plains bison was under review. Her response does not promise the support we were seeking to have bison listed as wildlife.

Main points:

• The letter acknowledges the cultural, ecological, and historical significance of plains bison to Indigenous communities in southern Alberta. It does not acknowledge the wider role of bison throughout the province and to non-Indigenous peoples.
• Despite a statement that the department is interested in hearing from all Albertans on bison, there is no interest in our offer for further discussion.
• Environment and Protected Areas is reviewing the status of bison, which would offer more protections for the species. There is no promise of support for the designation of bison as wildlife under the Alberta Wildlife Act.
• Some concerns, including managing the population, disease transmission and movement onto private lands, are stated to require deliberation. Some of these concerns could be more effectively managed if the species were designated Wildlife, as this would provide new management tools.

Minister Schulz’s response is available here.