Field Notes: American Prairie’s Local Newsletter
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I’m pleased to share with you the third edition of Field Notes, our local newsletter for neighbors, community members, Montanans, and anyone curious to know more about our activities and offerings in the communities where we live and work. This issue contains some great highlights, including our most recent land purchase (and celebrating becoming over-the-fence neighbors with the Aaniiih Nakoda Community at Fort Belknap), a staff feature on new Bison Operations Manager Pedro Calderon-Dominguez, a Wild Sky partner project spotlight, dates to save, and, of course, a bison update.
Spring is around the corner, and we are excited for the season of leaf buds, wildflowers, visitors, gumbo, and newborns of all kinds across the prairie. This newsletter exists to help keep you connected to this special place, to provide you with facts and insights, and to give you a sense of who we are, and how and why we care for the prairie. I really appreciate the responses I’ve heard from you on our first two issues of the newsletter. Don’t forget you can always reach out to me with questions and ideas of what you’d like to see featured here.
Stay well, play well, and be in touch,
Corrie Williamson, American Prairie Senior Outreach Manager
American Prairie is Growing
We’re thrilled to announce the purchase of a 4,960-acre parcel, Wild Horse, to the American Prairie land base, putting our total amount of deeded and leased acres at 460,800. This property is rich in restoration potential, with diverse riparian areas and associated habitats, gumbo flats, and grasses. However, we are most excited that the property is directly adjacent to Fort Belknap. After many years of getting to know one another and working on mutually beneficial collaborations, we are now over-the-fence neighbors with our friends and partners in the Aaniiih Nakoda Community. We have considered ourselves neighbors with Fort Belknap for many years – but neighbors fifty miles down a gravel road! We celebrated the opening of Antelope Creek Campground, our former closest property to Fort Belknap, with the community in 2019. We look forward to continuing to work together as across-the-fence neighbors now.
We work with many partners at Fork Belknap on wildlife restoration, bison exchange and herd health, tourism, sharing and preserving cultural heritage, the Wild Sky program, and scientific research through our relationships at Aaniiih Nakoda College and partnership with the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute. We are grateful for the leadership and stewardship of our neighbors at Fort Belknap and look forward to continued collaborations. You can read more about this work at americanprairie.org/project/ indigenous-communities/
As American Prairie’s land holdings, community partnerships, outreach efforts, educational offerings, leasing program, bison herd, and donor base all continue to expand, we need more staff to meet growing needs. We’re proud to share that we are now a staff of 54, 46 of whom are full-time and 8 seasonal or part time. Of our full-time employees, there are 10 staff working out of our Lewistown office, and 15 in the field in Phillips County, with the rest working in or near Bozeman, or remotely. We’re happy to highlight one of those staff members, who joined us in the summer of 2022: keep reading to meet Pedro!
Meet our Staff:
Pedro Calderon-Dominguez, Bison Operations Manager
Pedro works with the bison team in the field, leading the implementation of everyday actions to reach the goals of American Prairie. He holds an MSc in Natural Resources Management and a BSc in Ecology from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Mexico. He is specialized in range and wildlife management and conservation with extensive training in range and ranch management and stewardship, is certified in Holistic Management by the Savory Institute, and is a former student of the Ranching for Profit School. He is an active member of the low-stress stockmanship and regenerative grazing communities.
Before joining American Prairie, Pedro was the ranch manager for Chapman Livestock LLC in northwestern Oklahoma and southwest Kansas. Before that, he managed Rancho El Uno in Chihuahua, where he was also the manager of Mexico’s bison conservation herd. Growing up in northern Mexico and having worked in the Chihuahuan Desert for more than 20 years, he is hooked on remote wide-open spaces, wildlife, and the culture and life of the range. Pedro and his wife Flora live in the “Rancho la Horquilla Seca” (Dry Fork Unit), by Midale road about 50 miles south of Malta. When he is not working in the bison program, Pedro attends to his other joys in life, like family, horses, dogs, and leatherwork. (Continued on Page 4)
Pedro, in your first year of work with American Prairie and our bison and bison team, what has been most exciting, surprising, or rewarding for you?
That is easy… los Cibolos (bison in Comanche) and working full-on in a mission to restore the bison’s dignity and help this magnificent creature to recover and demonstrate its vital role in the Great Plains ecosystem. There is something indescribable about the connection you can develop with bison that turns into an addiction. Once you experience this connection, it runs in your blood and you chase after it.
Bison evolved in the plains, and that is why it is an extremely sensitive animal and its “feel” is enormous, so it doesn’t matter if it’s a handling event or checking on them in the prairie: if you are on the same ground with the buffalo, you are always interacting with them.
Another great thing about working here is the friendly and enthusiastic people, and I mean not just the bison team, but all American Prairie staff and our friends and partners. The bison team is fantastic: I like that we have young people working in the field.
What are you most excited about in 2023 when it comes to the bison program?
One is bringing and sharing more knowledge and skills on bison handling and grazing management. Second is hopefully being able to graze more land and allow the bison herds to grow and improve the habitat and population structure. Third is our fall handling; we are going to work the Sun Prairie herd, which is a challenging, big herd, and the landscape is stunning. And finally, I’m thrilled and I’m feeling inspired and honored to work more with the Tatanka Oyate (The Buffalo Nation), our partners in Indigenous communities.
What do you enjoy most about living on the prairie in south Phillips County?
Living in the northern great plains, north of the Missouri River, is fantastic. It is hard to define what I enjoy most because I just enjoy living here. But if there is a need for a more elaborate description, this is why:
One morning this winter, I went to check the Dry Fork bison herd a little before sunrise. On my way, I found out that the mule deer had spent the night in the stand of trees close to my yard, 20 of them. They looked really calm bedding in the snow, next to the trees where eight porcupines decided to spend the winter, along with a flock of sharp-tailed grouse. A bit later, I stopped to scout the drifts by the Beaver Creek crossing, where, while I was feeling the crispy air of the morning, I heard a couple of bald eagles take off from the trees by the creek banks. I wasn’t the reason why those eagles flew – it was the 120 antelope moving all together by the hills to the west. And to my good fortune, the bison herd was moving west as well, just in the direction where we had set up the facilities and were preparing to handle them. And then, that night, my three-legged red border collie woke me up at 3 am to see the Aurora Borealis.
David Cunningham, National Discovery Center Director
National Discovery Center Programming
In 2022, more than 3,000 visitors came to the National Discovery Center in Lewistown. This year, we are excited to roll out our first full year of educational and inspirational programming. Our events are free and open to the public, though occasional options to donate will support local groups we collaborate with for specific programming. More information is available on our online event calendar, but for now, save the dates!
April 13: Speaker Series: Jason Baldes: “Land Rematriation with Buffalo Restoration is Reconciliation,” 6-8pm
May 6: Eco-Critters with Zoo Montana, 10 am – 4 pm
May 16: Prairie Lectures Series: with Dr. Daniel Kinka of American Prairie, 7 pm
July 1: Speaker Series: Historic Indian Trade and Camp Blankets: a Presentation and Appraisal with Barry Friedman (Public Presentation at 1 pm, Textile Appraisals, 2:30 pm – 5 pm)
July 8: Eco-Critters with Zoo Montana, 10 am – 4 pm
July 18: Prairie Lectures Series: with Biologist Dana Nelson, 7 pm
August 5: Eco-Critters with Zoo Montana, 10 am – 4 pm
August 24: Speaker Series: Speaker TBA
September 9: Eco-Critters with Zoo Montana, 10 am – 4 pm
September 26: A Prairie Home Companion Night with Robin and Linda Williams, 7:30 pm
October is Indigenous Peoples’ Month: Lineup will be announced at a later date, but expect presenters, a gallery exhibit, and more.
Visitation dates to save:
American Prairie welcomes the public to recreate on our properties year-round; entry and dispersed camping are free of cost, and permission is not required to recreate on, enter, or cross our deeded property. As spring rolls around, our lodging facilities get their spring cleaning and are ready for use, and reservations are now open! We hope you’ll visit to stay, camp, stargaze, birdwatch, hike, or hunt. Book and learn more online at americanprairie.org/visit.
Antelope Creek Campground
Open 5/26/23 - 10/1/2023
Minimal Cabins: $68 per night
Tent Site: $18 per night
30A RV Site: $36 per night
Myers Family Huts
Open 4/5/2023 - 12/3/2023
$165 per night
(Each hut sleeps 8-9)
Buffalo Camp
Open year-round
Tent Site: $12
RV Site: $18
Wild Sky Partner Spotlight
In 2022, 16 families collectively owning more than 70,000 acres collaborated with American Prairie through our Wildlife Friendly Lands programs, including Wild Sky and Cameras for Conservation. Every year, we partner with Wild Sky landowners on conservation projects that align with their management goals and benefit the wildlife and people of our communities. Last year’s projects included fence removals or conversion to wildlife-friendly fencing, a spring enhancement, construction of an elk fence-crossing, and more. Here, we’re shining the spotlight on Wild Sky partner Chris Moline, an over-the-fence neighbor and lessee of the PN property, who collaborated with American Prairie on a range riding project.
With support through Wild Sky, Chris hired a local range rider to keep an eye on his cattle and provide him with notes on the health of his range, cows, and the wildlife species the herd encountered. A range rider’s job can take place in harsh conditions and rugged terrain, but these folks have a passion for the landscape, and a valuable skillset to offer producers.
Range riders can access remote areas and tough country to look after cattle. They also encourage herding behavior in cows that provides natural protection from predators. Chris told us, “Range riders give me peace of mind. There are so many projects I have to work on that having range riders out here are a huge help to my management.” Chris was happy to have the freedom to pursue other work, knowing his cattle were safe. He told us that he also appreciates having a fresh set of eyes to give him feedback on the condition of the range, water, and animals. While keeping watch over Chris’ cattle, his range rider reported wildlife encounters with elk, deer, coyotes, beaver, and bear.
Chris’ range rider got a good lay of the land in 2022 and is returning in 2023. We look forward to continuing to partner with Chris on this great project. Learn more about our Wildlife Friendly Lands programs online or by contacting me at katyb@americanprairie.org.
Katy Beattie, Wild Sky Specialist
Scott Heidebrink, Director of Bison Restoration
Bison at a Glance
Our Dry Fork herd was captured and handled in November of 2022. This allowed for veterinary exams, disease testing, and distribution to tribal herds. To meet our management goals and improve herd dynamics and genetics, the Dry Fork herd was relocated to the White Rock Unit and integrated into the herd that has lived on that property since 2018.
In total, 135 bison were handled over three days. 51 bison were distributed to tribal partners in Montana and Washington. 53 bison were tested for disease, and, as usual, no diseases of concern were found and all bison were deemed healthy by a local veterinarian. In partnership with the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute, 53 bison had CERES GPS tags placed in their ear, and hair samples were taken for genetic analysis. This research will help us better understand bison movement and herd dynamics.
In addition to our Smithsonian partners, the handling was attended by interns from the Buffalo Research and Education Center at Aaniiih Nakoda College, who were able to gain hands-on experience, and observed by neighbors and partners.
Our bison team reported some interesting data at the start of this year. As we work sustainably toward our goal of ecologically significant bison herds on the landscape, we view the public benefit of these animals, through hunting, distribution and exchange, as an important part of the process. From October 2005 through December 2022, 250 bison have been harvested at American Prairie through our harvest program, including our public lottery, donated harvest opportunities, and food bank donations. We have distributed 546 bison to tribal and conservation herds around the country. Our team estimates somewhere around 150 bison have died naturally on the landscape since we reintroduced them in 2005, returning their organic matter to the prairie and its biotic community.
This means that approximately 946 bison have either contributed to bison conservation, been experienced through unique harvests by the public, or have returned an important function to the ecosystem. Our current herds total 691 bison (not counting spring calves!), meaning that American Prairie has raised approximately 1,637 bison over the past 18 years. In 2023, we plan to complete an update on our Bison Management Plan and we look forward to sharing that with our neighbors and supporters.
Did You Know?
Nearly 80,000 acres of American Prairie’s deeded land are now enrolled in Block Management through FWP (including spring turkey on the PN and Two Crow) with 3,697 hunter days logged in 2022. Our public bison harvest lottery will open in May!
Thank you for your interest in American Prairie! Learn more at AmericanPrairie.org, and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns, or to share ideas for future newsletter topics. Contact Corrie, American Prairie Senior Outreach Manager, at corrie@americanprairie.org P.O.
