The 2016 Bison Roundup is Here!

Antelope Island Bison

ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK – The 2016 Antelope Island Bison Roundup is just around the corner, and this year’s event will feature some new updates while still keeping true to an exciting tradition with rich history.

Held each year at Antelope Island State Park, the Bison Roundup is a primary tool utilized to help ensure the continued health of one of the nation’s largest and oldest public bison herds. To help people better understand how the how the bison heard is managed, you can visit Antelope Island State Park the day of the event and experience it first-hand.

The event kicks-off at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 22, at the Fielding Garr Ranch. From there, the bison will be pushed across to the corals near Whiterock Bay.

This year, there will be some exciting updates.To help enhance the viewing experience, park staff will be bringing in sets of metal bleachers; giving people a better and more comfortable view of the roundup. There will also be live music entertainment, complete with food and drinks available for purchase.

Visitors and riders who present a can of non-perishable food at the park gate will also be given 20% off of their entrance fee. All of the food collected will be donated to the local food bank.

A young bison on Antelope Island

What happens at the Roundup?

There are two phases to the Bison Roundup. The first phase begins on Oct. 22, where horse riders round up and push the bison into small herds. The riders then drive the bison into a holding corral where they rest for five days. This rest period helps reduce the animals’ stress levels and allows them to relax; making them more cooperative during the second phase.

This first phase is a popular event every year and attendees include both local spectators and visitors from around the world.

The second phase of the 2016 Roundup begins on October 27. Here, the bison are sorted and separated one at a time to receive their vaccinations. They receive individual health screenings that include checks for pregnancies, parasites, and health issues.

The bison are also given a small external computer chip, which serves as a permanent ID that stores their health information. Once the bison are checked, they are either released back onto the island, or kept in the coral where they are later sold in a public auction.

Bison Roundup on Antelope Island

Why are some bison sold at auction?

The manageable herd size for bison on the island is between 450-700 bison; and each year there are between 100-150 calves born into the herd.  With no natural predators on the island capable of taking down a bison, it is necessary to artificially reduce the herd size to balance out the food supply.

It is also important to remember that there are other animals – such as pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and mule deer – which also need to be considered when looking of the island’s overall food supply.

By selling excess bison at a public auction, park staff are able to keep the herd within a number the habitat can support. Ideally, the plan calls for a herd size of about 550 bison.

The revenue generated through the bison sale is used in the Wildlife and Habitat Management Program for operating costs, habitat, and bison infrastructure improvement and research. Some funds are also used toward fire protection and weed management.

You can learn more about the bison and how you can visit Antelope Island by visiting the Antelope Island portion of the Utah State Parks website.

Check Out Antelope Island State Park!