A surviving herd of endangered wood bison at Hook Lake, NWT?

Abstract

Bison in the Hook Lake area are classified and managed as low value, diseased, plains bison Bison bison bison × wood bison B. b. athabascae hybrids. The hypothesis of universal hybridization is not supported by confirmed samples of relatively pure wood bison. A proposed limited gene flow hypothesis predicts that: 1) introduced plains bison did not swamp all of the wood bison gene pools; 2) movement and genetic exchange between demes is limited; and 3) demes of relatively pure wood bison remain intact long after the hybridization episode. These animals may be at least partially descended from a relict population. Historical, behavioural, morphometric, photographic and observational evidence is consistent with this hypothesis. The current set of policy and legislation empowers government to protect and manage the "endangered' wood bison but provides no protection for hybrids. The Hook Lake herd is in danger of extirpation from overharvesting, disease and overpredation or from deliberate depopulation to eradicate disease. If the Hook Lake bison are wood bison, implications of a status change include: 1) empowering government to protect and manage the remaining herd; 2) the option to salvage and restore genetic diversity to the world population of wood bison; 3) alternatives that would greatly simplify future management strategies for free-roaming northern bison populations; and 4) a contribution to the international objective of removing the wood bison from danger of extinction. -from Author