News Release

Fence construction begins on new bison enclosure

NPS Photo

News Release Date: December 10, 2021

Contact: Ed Standefer, 580-622-7232

Sulphur, Okla.– Fence construction on Chickasaw National Recreation Area’s new bison enclosure has started. Planning for this project began in 2017. Visitors to the park may see machinery in the area as work takes place.

The park bison herd was first established in February 1920, when three bison were brought to the park from Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge and housed in a small pasture near Pavilion Springs. In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps began work on an 84 acre bison pasture, which was completed in 1934. The herd has lived in that location ever since.

“We’ve had our bison herd in the same pasture for almost 90 years,” says Superintendent Bill Wright, “We’re building a second pasture on the other side of the highway. Once we have two pastures, we can rotate the animals between them. This will let us better manage the area for the benefit of both the land and the bison.”

The new enclosure will be 42 acres, and although smaller in size, has more grazeland available than the current pasture. Once the bison are relocated to the new pasture, park staff will be able to perform much needed prairie restoration work in the current enclosure to benefit this native species.

To learn more about how the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior manage 19 bison herds in 12 states, including the herd at Chickasaw National Recreation Area, visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bison/protecting-bison.htm. 

For more information about Chickasaw National Recreation Area, visit www.nps.gov/chic or call the Travertine Nature Center at [phone].