Q&A Blog | National Bison Day
Rhonda FraSier
Stampede into the World Bison Day spotlight with our Q&A blog, where we chat with Rhonda Frasier, the owner and operator of Fraiser Bison LLC alongside her husband in Texas! Dive into Rhonda’s dedicated work in bison conservation, and see how her work is making strides in protecting these mighty creatures of the prairie.
Q&A Blog
Published November 4, 2023
All images are by Susan Diann Designs – Facebook, Elmore City, Oklahoma.
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What are the current biggest threats to bison populations, both in North America and globally?
The biggest threats are disease and exotic internal parasites brought to North America by domestic livestock. While there are indigenous parasites and disease that occurs naturally to North America, the bison tend to be susceptible to the exotic forms when exposed. Animal agriculture and modern civilization bring with them these herd health issues that research and development will help with.
How do you work with conservationists to promote sustainable bison populations and ensure their natural habitats are protected?
All About Bison works with associations, producers, Tribal herds, and parks to bring awareness, without spin, of the plight and promise for American bison. We believe that pockets of bison populations in as many places as possible is the real-world way forward for restoration and preservation of the species. Ranching, while expressly commercial, also assumes a role in conservation through ethical stewardship of the species while producing food. Parks play this same role, as do Tribal herds. The interest in bison ranching becomes a gateway for land use strategies rooted in rewilding ecosystems to support the bison.
Can you share some successful conservation initiatives or projects that “All About Bison” has been a part of or highlighted?
- The Native Grazer Initiative
- American Bison Society
- Wildlife Conservation Society
- National Bison Association/Canadian Bison Association
How do you address the challenges of habitat fragmentation and its impact on bison migration and genetic diversity?
No one knows for sure why, or how much, bison actually migrated. Modern American bison are allowed migration within the confines of a land holding. The ‘habitat fragmentation’ must be accepted as a reality of modern North America and civilization. This applies to expansive lands on which bison roam, including state and national parks, to private lands that are correctly stocked to support a healthy ecosystem for bison.
Genetic diversity, while healthy and important, has not proven to be a challenge for bison. Within the North American Bison Registry there is vast evidence of high genetic diversity within privately owned bison herds. As we learn more about the genome, we will be able to make better decisions regarding how genetics play a role in bison preservation. In order to preserve bison, scalable restoration is important.
How do you see climate change affecting bison populations, and what initiatives are in place to mitigate these effects?
Climate change will cause bison to adapt. The adaptations may include body size, disease resistance, and internal parasite resistance. The accidental translocation exotic internal parasites and disease will need to be mitigated. We must become more serious about research and management to stop the spread of unnatural herd health antagonists that will be exacerbated by climate change. Humans can help in this realm by discovering the threats, and devising management strategies to give the bison a chance. After that help is given, humans need to step back and let the bison prevail with the benefit of resilient ecosystems management strategies.
Are there any conservation-focused educational programs or resources available on your platform for schools and communities?
All About Bison exists solely for that purpose. AAB exists entirely on authentic reporting, correctly credited republishing of historic information, and a strict policy of accepting all views and perspectives that are respectfully and credibly conveyed.
How do you address the issue of human-bison conflicts, especially in areas where bison populations are rebounding or being reintroduced?
Rewilding bison may not be a commonsense solution to species preservation. Where it is possible, it should be carefully considered and managed, which means it is no longer wild. All bison are wild and human intervention, or stewardship, does not change that inherent reality. They are as they have always been, wild things that allow human interaction.
