458 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



six animals in a single epidemic before it could be controlled, and a 

 similar sudden outbreak in ^larch. 1922, when fifty-two buffalo died 

 and the entire herd was threatened, indicates the still uncertain situ- 

 ation with respect to the safet}' of the species. . 



The tame herd, although it is of pure bison stock, was originally 

 recruited from several sources. The Goodnight herd in the Pan- 

 handle of Texas furnished three bulls. Another band of eighteen 

 bison came from the Flathead region of jMontana. There is some 

 Colorado bison blood in this tame herd, as well as a little from the 

 Yellowstone Park wild herd : and a single bull of the woodland bison, 

 racially distinct from the others, is said to have been introduced. A 

 similar mixture occurs in the wild bands of buffa'.o now ranging 

 the Kaibab Forest. These are the remnant of a herd gathered from 

 several localities and introduced there by " Buffalo " Jones for the 

 purpose of experimental breeding some years ago. The plan proved 

 impracticable, and all the animals were removed except about twenty 

 which were too wild to be rounded up. This remnant has recently 

 been relocated ; and one of the band is said to be conspicuous because 

 of its li'hite face. 



The above cases represent an undesirable condition. The cattle 

 breeder's practice of mixing strains should not be followed when 

 dealing with wild animals for wilderness parks and preserves, as the 

 strains from different localities may represent various races and 

 subspecies. A mongrel stock is of little scientific and educational 

 interest. On the other hand, there need be no fear of deleterious 

 effects from inbreeding the buffalo. Such inbreeding is constantly 

 occuring in nature. The mixing of wild stock is wholly at variance 

 with the ideals of our Xational Parks, — wilderness areas set aside 

 for their features of supreme national interest to be maintained in 

 their wild and original state. This preservation of original natural 

 conditions must apply to the large mammals and other wild life, no 

 less than to the forests and mountain scenen,-. 



The wild herd is the real bison prize in the Park, and ever}- effort 

 should be made to preserve it in a wild state and without admixture 

 from the other stock. This large band is derived from the original 

 remnant of our great western herd and owes its preser\-ation to the 

 fact that it was composed of individuals which voluntarily or under 

 pressure from the hunters on the plains chose to winter in the Yellow- 

 stone Park region and did not join the great herds on their annual 

 migration south in autumn. The descendants of these non-migrator\- 

 bison today constitute the only original wild herd in the United 

 States. Owincr to their hardv nature thev are able to winter success- 



