Are bison exotic in the Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve?
Peek JM, Miquelle DG, Wright RG. 1987. Are bison exotic in the Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve?. Environmental Management. 11(2):149-153
The authors argue that past distribution of animals locally extinct from unknown causes is relevant to their status as exotic or native in national parks. The bison was a native species in Alaska, and they occurred naturally until about 500 years ago. Precise information on the original range of bison in Alaska is lacking, but they definitely occurred north of the Alaska Range to the Arctic Ocean. Bison were reintroduced into Alaska beginning in 1928; today there are two small herds resident in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The authors conclude ambiguously that, despite the fact that bison are presently considered exotic in Alaska, their actual status is debatable.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Peek, James; Miquelle, Dale; Wright, R
- Units
- WRST
- Keywords
- Alaska, archeological evidence, Bison (Bos bison), Exotic Species, Range, Terrestrial Mammals, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park And Preserve