Bison Project Timeline

2021

• Bison are featured in WGN TV’s “Backstory with Larry Potash” and in Bill Kurtis “Time To Praise The Prairie” video celebrating the Midewin NTP Silver Anniversary.
• Bison are featured in one of five Midewin NTP Silver Anniversary banners in the Village of Elwood.

2020

• On November 7, National Bison Day, bison enthusiasts learned about America’s National Mammal in a virtual cross-country learning expedition from the Prairie State to the Treasure State. The USDA Forest Service’s third annual “Bison Crawl” included live presentations from Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois, the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center in Montana and from nearby First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park. Presentations were broadcast live. The first stop on the virtual education tour was at the spotting scopes along old historic Route 66 at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
  • Among the sites along the Bison Crawl path, there are six local public libraries with temporary bison spotlights that feature library staff picks of books and activity sheets about bison, as well as replica items on loan from Midewin NTP. There are replica jaw bones with bison teeth; a mold of a bison hoof print and more. The six libraries are: (1) Aurora Public Library District on Eola Road; (2) Joliet Public Library District on Black Road;  (3) Three Rivers Public Library District in Channahon; White Oak Library District branches in (4) Crest Hill and (5) Romeoville; and (6) Wilmington Public Library District.          
• In April, a bison calf is born to a bison that had been transferred from Midewin NTP to Buffalo Rock State Park in November 2019. The bison calf is named “Hope.”
• Production of a Library of b-roll videos of bison in all four seasons is completed; bison video is made available on Vimeo.

2019

• In December, the Jack Barker intuitive sculpture of a bison represents the Midewin NTP bison herd in the Wilmington, Illinois Holiday Parade.
• On November 6, National Bison Day, two new bison spotting scopes debuted on the north end of the Group 63 Trail. The telescopes were sponsored by the Midewin Tallgrass Prairie Alliance, which received assistance from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation through its Public Amenities and Events grant program.
• The first newborn bison calf of the season is spotted in April.

2018

• In December, the Jack Barker intuitive sculpture of a bison represents the Midewin NTP bison herd in the Wilmington, Illinois Holiday Parade.
• In December, the first eight bison are transferred to affiliates working to increase diversity within their herds; to establish a conservation herd or to increase their herd population. To fulfill new roles in education and heritage preservation, bison are transferred to: (1) Sante Sioux Nation; and (2) University of Georgia. One bull and four cows became the first-ever bison to be studied at the University of Georgia in Athens, where students learn everything from humane handling approaches to the herding and grazing habits and more. Three bison – one bull and two cows – were transferred to help the Sante Sioux Nation maintain connections to their Native American heritage. The Intertribal Buffalo Council coordinated with members of the Sante Sioux Nation (www.itbcbuffalonation.org) for the Midewin NTP bison to join their herd.
• On National Bison Day, November 3, the first “Bison Crawl” is hosted with the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The purpose of the Bison Crawl is to increase conservation education for the public.
  • The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce provided the seven-foot-tall Jack Barker Folk Art Bison Sculpture for the public to view at Midewin NTP for this one day only.
• Guided volunteer-led tours to look for the bison resume for the season in April.

August 2015

• Corral system electric wiring completed
• Corral system operation check
• Determined source of bison herd
• Corral system operation training

2017

• Bison herd is featured in WGN-TV story with Julie Unruh in June.
• On May, 6, over 2,300 people visit the prairie in one day to look for the bison.
• In April, the bison are featured in the PBS series “Travels with Darley.

2016

• In December, a bison web cam is installed through an agreement with the USDA Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation. The public is notified on Facebook and X when the bison are visible through the web cam; a live feed of the web cam is embedded on the home page of the Midewin NTP website.
• On November 6, National Bison Day, the first large public National Bison Day event is hosted; features Dwayne Lammers. Lammers was a consultant about bison for the film “Dances with Wolves” and instrumental in the introduction of the bison to Midewin NTP in 2015.
• In July, the Midewin NTP bison herd is recognized as “Parade Grand Marshall” in the annual Catfish Days parade in Wilmington, Illinois. Smokey Bear, Prairie Supervisor and others participate in the parade.
• As of May 12, nine calves had been born.
• On May 9, bison joined the ranks of the bald eagle when they were named National Mammal of the United States with the signing of the National Bison Legacy Act.
• On May 7, over 2,200 people visit in one day to look for the bison.
• Bison are featured in self-guided tours of Midewin NTP through the OnCell smartphone application.
• In spring, last bull from Colorado arrives.
• In April, the first volunteer rangers lead hikes to look for the bison from the Iron Bridge Trailhead.

2015

• October: Data shed is completed; well is tested; bison are examined and vaccinated against diseases, such as brucellosis; bison begin arriving from South Dakota and Colorado; experiment begins when the 1,200-acre non-native prairie pasture is opened to the bison.
• September: Corral system electric wiring is completed; contract is awarded for building trail and trail bridge for visitors to access bison viewing area along Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway.
• August: Corral system electric wiring completed; corral system operation check is completed; source of bison herd is determined; training of operation of corral system is conducted for staff.
• July: Final re-seeding of bison corral area is completed; gravel is poured at entrance to corral system.
• June: Corral system construction is complete.
• May: Automated bison handling system (Berlinic cube and squeeze chute) is installed; well is drilled; water lines to supply year-round drinking water to holding tanks is installed; solar panel to power water system is installed; fencing of four pasture areas with heavy duty wire is completed.
• April: Bison handling area is graded and partially re-seeded; concrete pad is poured for bison handling system

2014

• Construction of fencing and handling facilities begins.