The Buffalo and Island Park

Island Park’s history is intertwined with the American Bison. In 1876, Richard “Rocky Mountain Dick” Rock settled on the north shore of Henry’s Lake. He was a mountain man who became the second settler in the area. He made a living capturing, training and selling local wildlife. His ranch was a regular stage stop for the tourists on the way to Yellowstone. One of his most popular attractions was a buffalo that he found as a calf and raised.

Buffalo occasionally wander from the park onto the flat, east of Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake. Currently the Idaho Department of Fish and Game does not have jurisdiction over these bison.

Brucellosis control is the rationale for giving the responsibility for bison management to the Idaho Department of Agriculture. Yellowstone bison and elk were infected with the disease prior to 1917 by domestic cattle grazing in the park. Brucellosis causes failed pregnancies in cattle and is transmitted by ingestion of infected birthing materials from other species. Area elk are also infected and no occurrences of infected cattle have been reported in Island Park. One could conclude that since cattle don’t begin grazing here until well after the spring elk calving, the chance of Brucellosis exposure is minimal. Would this not pertain to the buffalo as well? The current management approach is to immediately destroy any animal that wanders into the Island Park area.

The undeveloped flat is a source of pride for many residents of Island Park and the presence of a small herd of buffalo might help guarantee its preservation. It would be the source of tourist interest, a great marketing tool and a generator of local income. This complex issue that would require study, planning and everyone’s input and could be a win-win for everyone involved.

Island Park has a Buffalo River and even a Buffalo Run RV Park but what we don’t have is any buffalo!