Welcome to the Delta Junction Bison Range

Welcome to the Delta Junction Bison Range. . , Delta Junction Bison Range , Bison were released along the Delta River in 1928, and the herd increased from 28 animals to 400 by 1947. Bison hunting began in 1951. The 90,000 acre Delta Junction Bison Range (DJBR) was established in 1979, when approximately 3,000 acres of spruce forest were cleared and converted to open fields. These fields became part of the greater DJBR, which was established by the Alaska Legislature to help mitigate conflicts between bison and farms. Private farmlands had increased across the area, in part because of the Delta Agricultural Project., The main purpose of the bison range is to provide forage to attract migrating bison and encourage the herd to remain south of the Alaska Highway for as much of the year as possible. This helps limit bison damage to crops and private land. Biologists manage the range to maintain optimal habitat and forage to keep bison returning each year., Bison generally arrive on the DJBR in the summer months. The best time to view bison is during July and August on the Panoramic or Gerstle Fields. Breeding activity occurs during this time, so please do not disturb or approach bison. Harassment of wildlife is illegal, and bison can be unpredictable and dangerous if approached too closely., Forest succession and a boreal forest habitat mosaic , Succession is the change in plant and animal communities over time following a disturbance. In the boreal forest, succession begins with new growth of herbaceous plants and ends when the forest is primarily composed of mature spruce. The process of succession is reset by a disturbance that causes significant change within the biological community. Fires are the most common disturbance in the boreal forest. Fire can burn some areas completely, while others remain untouched. Over time, multiple fires can result in a habitat mosaic of forest patches of various ages, sizes, and species composition. A habitat mosaic is key to plant and animal diversity. Each successional stage supports different species of wildlife, and many species use more than one stage to forage, reproduce, or seek protection from weather and predators., Habitat enhancement resets , Managers enhance bison habitat by maintaining fields and planting preferred bison foods. Attracting bison to the range decreases bison damage on private land while increasing bison hunting opportunities on public land. Enhancement projects also benefit other species, such as moose, ruffed grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. Techniques like rollerchopping or prescribed fire mimic the effects of natural wildfire, resulting in a mosaic of successional stages and diverse habitat for wildlife species across the bison range., [Highlighted species silhouetted against forest succession illustration] , American Bison (Bison bison) , Bison forage on early successional species like grasses and sedges, and use mature stages of forest for protection and cover., Sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) , Sharp-tailed grouse need all stages of forest succession - open grasslands for breeding, aspen stands for spring forage, and spruce forests in winter for cover., Moose (Alces alces) , Moose prefer to browse on shrubs like willow and young aspen up to 3 meters (~10 ft.) in height after a disturbance like wildfire., Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) , Ruffed grouse use different ages of aspen stands. Young aspen provide excellent cover for chicks in the summer, and older trees provide breeding and winter habitat., [Aerial view showing that] , The Delta Junction Bison Range is a diverse mosaic of habitat patches in different stages of succession.,