THE WICHITA BUFFALO RANGE. 



REPORT TO THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AN IN- 

 SPECTION OF THE WICHITA FOREST AND GAME RESERVE. IN 

 OKLAHOMA, TO SELECT A SUITABLE LOCATION FOR A BUFFALO 

 RANGE. 



Bv J. ALDEN LORING. 



OX Xovember 21, 1905, I left New York, with instructions 

 from the Xew York Zoological Society to proceed at once 

 to the Wichita Forest and Game Reserve, in Oklahoma, and, if 

 possible, select a tract of land suitable for a range on which to 

 confine and propagate American bison. 



Arriving at Cache, Oklahoma, on Xovember 24th, I spent the 

 three following clays riding over the reserve. These three trips, 

 together with two others that were made to ride over the boundary 

 line and explore the territory that was finally chosen, covered 

 about 150 miles. I think I am safe in saying that all of the 

 country within the reserve that is suitable for a buflialo range was 

 either ridden over, or observed carefully from the tops of moun- 

 tains. Whenever a location met with approval, it was afterward 

 inspected closely. 



Although I was charged with locating a bufifalo range only, 

 the pasturage and character of the country were so admirably 

 adapted for other big game mammals that it was possible to locate 

 a site suitable for elk, deer, and antelope as well, and that without 

 in the least interfering with the rights of the bufifalo. In a cer- 

 tain large area, wherein prairies, hills, gullies, ravines, and moun- 

 tains occur, there is ample opportunity for animals to escape from 

 the attacks of each other. 



The Bufifalo Range, as it is now mapped, embraces about 12 

 square miles. It is situated in the western centre of the Wichita 

 Reserve. Although there is enough grazing land outside the 

 range to supply the cattle now feeding there, the preserve includes 

 the choicest grazing sections within the reserve. If at any time 

 it is deemed necessary to enlarge the range, it may be done by 

 including the land north of the northern boundary. 



