U. S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Alaska Open File Report 119 

BLM/AK/GI-08/013+6518+025

August 2008

Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction 

and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

Kyle Joly

BLM

Alaska
The BLM Mission

The Bureau of Land Management sustains the health, diversity and productivity of the public lands for the 

use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Cover Photo

Death Valley, just east of McCarthys Marsh, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. All photos by the author.

Author

Kyle Joly worked as a wildlife biologist until April 2008 at the BLM Fairbanks District Office in Fairbanks, 

Alaska. He now works for the National Park Service in Fairbanks.

Disclaimer

The mention of trade names or commercial products in this report does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the federal government.

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A bibliography of scientific reports is online at www.blm.gov/ak. 
Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction 

and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

Kyle Joly 

BLM-Alaska Open File Report 119

August 2008

U. S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

CONTENTS

Background ....................................................................1

Supporting Information ..........................................................1

Personal Interviews ...........................................................1

Robert Stephenson, Alaska Department of Fish and Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Catherine Persons, Alaska Department of Fish and Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Stephen DuBois, Alaska Department of Fish and Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Maria Berger, formerly University of Alaska, Fairbanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Kimberlee Beckmen, Alaska Department of Fish and Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Ground Reconnaissance of McCarthys Marsh on July 26, 2004 ........................3

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-08, ES-56-57 .................................4

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-09, ES-56 ....................................5

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-10, ES-56 ....................................6

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-11, ES-56 ....................................6

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-12, ES-52-32 .................................7

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-13, ES-56 ....................................7

Ground Reconnaissance Summary for McCarthys Marsh and Death Valley............8

Recommendation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

References .....................................................................8

FIGURES

Figure 1. A typical Lichen Tussock Tundra ecological site in McCarthys Marsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Figure 2. Map of study locations in McCarthys Marsh, Seward Peninsula, Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Figure 3. Study site 2004-08, a breached lake bed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Figure 4. Study site 2004-09, a breached lake bed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Figure 5. Study site 2004-11, a breached lake bed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

iii

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Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Land Management’s Northwest Management Framework Plan (1982), 

which covered management of public lands on 

the Seward Peninsula, did not address herding domestic animals other than reindeer. 

However, local residents have also considered 

herding American bison (Bison bison) in the 

region. The BLM initiated this study of 

McCarthys Marsh to obtain information for 

new planning efforts and to prepare for potential permit applications. The Kobuk-Seward 

Peninsula Proposed Resource Management 

Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (2007) incorporates the study’s results; 

the new plan, which upon finalization will replace the management framework plan, limits 

commercial grazing on BLM-managed public 

lands to reindeer (Rangifer tarandus).

Bison have been extinct in Alaska for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The most 

recent physical evidence of bison from eastern 

Interior Alaska dates back more than 1200 

years (Stephenson et al. 2001). Specimens 

from further west are even older. In fact, 

bison are thought to have been extinct in 

eastern Beringia before the start of the Holocene (Rasic and Matheus 2007). While bison 

were the most common large land mammal in 

Alaska thousands of years ago, all of Alaska’s 

existing wild bison came from the 20 animals 

released near Delta Junction in 1928 (Griffin 

and Johnson 1994). These animals were plains 

bison (B. b. bison) transplanted to Alaska from 

Montana. Natural emigration and transplants 

have now created additional herds at Copper 

River, Chitina River, and Farewell (Griffin 

and Johnson 1994). In mid-1985 Alaska had 

approximately 700 feral plains bison (Griffin and Johnson 1994). No wood bison (B. b. 

athabascae) currently roam the state, but the 

Alaska Department of Fish and Game is considering introducing them to the Yukon Flats, 

Minto Flats, and/or the Innoko Flats areas.

The bison is the largest native land mammal in North America (Griffin and Johnson 

1994). Wood bison can be 15% larger than 

plains bison. A full-grown bull stands 6 feet 

(1.8 m) at the shoulder, measures up to 10 

feet (3.3 m) long, and can weigh more than a 

ton (907 kg). Full-grown cows are smaller, but 

have been known to weigh more than 1,200 

pounds (544 kg). Cows are sexually mature at 

2 years of age and give birth to single calves 

twice in three years. The gestation period is 

approximately 270 days. Bison in Alaska 

have been known to live to a relatively great 

age compared to other ungulates; a bull killed 

in the Copper River area was over 20 years 

old. 

Bison are migratory animals by nature 

(Griffin and Johnson 1994). Alaska’s wild bison do not remain in single herds, but scatter 

alone or in groups ranging up to 50 animals or 

more. In the Delta Junction area, they move 

onto farms, remaining throughout the winter 

and sometimes causing damage to unharvested crops. Alaska’s other wild bison herds also 

have seasonal movement patterns. 

Bison are grazing animals and in Alaska find 

only limited amounts of food along rivers, in 

recent burns, and sedge potholes (Griffin and 

Johnson 1994). Their diet consists mainly of 

various grasses and forbs like vetch (Vicia spp. 

and Astragalus spp.), a favored summer food 

found on gravel bars. They also consume sedges, silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata), willow, 

and ground birch. Good bison range is limited in Alaska, making it unlikely that large 

numbers of bison could sustain themselves in 

today’s environment as they did millennia ago.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Personal Interviews

Robert Stephenson, Alaska Department 

of Fish and Game (ADFG) – Fairbanks, 

phone conversation, July 2004

Robert Stephenson was a long-time ADFG 

Area Biologist for northeastern Alaska. In his 

current position as Wood Basin Project Biologist, he has been working intently on introducing wood bison to the Yukon Flats region 

for the past several years. He stated that he 

thought that McCarthys Marsh would not suit 

bison, and that the State of Alaska had come 

to the same conclusion on several previous occasions when the idea had been considered. Bison make trails into wet areas, and the marsh 

is obviously quite wet. Stephenson suggested 

Maria Berger as someone knowledgeable about 

the effects of bison introduction into the area. 
2

 In the summer, bison prefer grass but eat 

sedges and some newly emerging willows. In 

winter bison still eat grasses, but they prefer 

sedges. Beaked sedge (Carex rostrata) and 

slough sedge (C. atherodes) offer high-quality 

forage and water sedge (C. aquatilis) offers 

low-quality feed. Bluejoint (Calamagrostis 

canadensis) is also a low-quality forage grass. 

Tussock tundra does not provide good food for 

bison (Figure 1). 

Productive range could support 5–10 

bison/square mile. Agricultural fields in Delta 

offered high-quality range (where the bison 

overwintered), but the summer range south of 

Delta was low-quality, providing bluejoint and 

vetch. 

Bison use their heads to sweep away soft 

snow up to 30 inches deep. They can get 

through crusted snow of lesser depth but need 

much higher forage biomass/quality to make it 

worthwhile.

Catherine “Kate” Persons, ADFG – Nome, 

interview, July 2004

Kate Persons recently retired as an Area 

Biologist for the Nome area. She said McCarthys Marsh area is important moose winter 

range. Given the moose population, anything 

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Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

that might hinder moose population recovery 

would not be considered favorably within the 

ADFG; competition between moose and bison 

could negatively affect moose recovery efforts. Competition might also develop between 

bison, caribou, and muskox. Persons thought 

that the State would be against a bison introduction because of negative local sentiment 

expressed about the muskox introduction 

that occurred on the Seward Peninsula in the 

1970s and 1980s. People still fear muskoxen, 

and bison are much larger animals. 

Plains bison have been relocated to four 

locations in Alaska: Delta, Copper River, Chitina, and Farewell. Persons said the ADFG 

generally opposes transplanting plains bison 

to additional areas, including the Seward Peninsula. As for wood bison, the ADFG opposes 

their relocation in many areas of Alaska, including areas outside of known historic range. 

No Holocene bison remains have been found 

on the Seward Peninsula.

Stephen DuBois, ADFG – Delta Junction, 

phone conversation, August 2004

Stephen DuBois is the Area Biologist for 

the region in which Alaska’s first bison introduction occurred. Bison management is 

Figure 1. A typical Lichen Tussock Tundra ecological site in McCarthys Marsh. 

The average 35% sedge and grass biomass of this site, located immediately north 

of Study Site 2004-09, provides low forage quality.
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Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

a significant part of his workload. DuBois 

is most familiar with the Delta Bison Herd, 

which forages primarily on grasses in native/

natural conditions during the summer. However, in the winter the bison move to agricultural fields in the region and feed on domestic 

forage because the planted crops have much 

higher nutritional value than native grasses 

there. DuBois believed the bison could tolerate

deep snows as long as enough forage was pres

ent. He also stated that the bison can make 

significant trails, up to 20–30 feet (6–10 m) 

wide if used repeatedly. Bison wear the trails 

down to mineral soil (i.e., the trails are devoid

of vegetation). 

DuBois also noted that habitat disturbance 

can come from wallows that may reach 10–15 

feet (3–5 m) in diameter. Bison prefer sandy 

soils for their wallows. DuBois also mentioned

that moose may shy away from areas occupied by bison. This competition is allayed in 

human-altered situations, such as where both

species have come to forage on planted oats.

Maria Berger, formerly University of 

Alaska Fairbanks – Fairbanks, phone conversation, August 2004

Maria Berger researched bison for her 

Master’s degree. She said she conducted range

work on the Yukon Flats National Wildlife 

Refuge and conducted reindeer-related range 

work in McCarthys Marsh. Berger said that 

the biomass of bison forage species is significantly lower in McCarthys Marsh than in 

the Yukon Flats. In fact, she felt it was low 

enough to warrant concern about the acceptability of the area as bison range. The marsh’s

“dry” lake beds (which are typically quite 

wet) have higher biomass, but these areas are

too wet for the bison in the summer (see also 

Ground Reconnaissance of McCarthys Marsh, 

July 26, 2004, below). She thought that the 

bison could damage the wet areas by creating trails and that McCarthys Marsh lacked 

sandy spots, which bison favor for wallowing. While wet areas of higher forage biomass 

would be easier to reach when the water froze

during winter, they pose two potential problems. One is that the lake beds are depressions and may retain more snow, making it 

harder for bison to access them. Berger said 

that snow deeper than 3 feet (1 m) would prevent the bison from foraging. She also noted 

that the dry lake bed habitat patches are 

fairly small and isolated. She said that the energy expended moving from one isolated area 

to another might be too great for the bison, 

especially given the low biomass even in the 

 lake beds. 

- Berger discussed reports from bison ranges 

in the Northwest Territories by Reynolds and 

others (1978) that document forage biomass 

in wet areas to around 3,500 lbs/acre (3930 

 kg/ha) and 1,750 lbs/acre (1965 kg/ha) in dry 

meadows. The forage in both these areas was 

dominated by high-quality species. Note how 

these figures dwarf the biomass found in McCarthys Marsh (see Ground Reconnaissance of 

McCarthys Marsh, July 26, 2004, below). 

 Berger said that introduction of bison into 

this area would be risky due to the aforemen-

 tioned reasons and therefore probably should 

not be attempted for the sake of the animals. 

She said that herders might attempt to use 

snowmachines to create trails for the bison, 

but she doubted the feasibility of this technique because of the great distance back to 

the village and the natural tendency of bison 

 not to respond well to herding. She noted the 

difficult time the ADFG had in trying to move 

the Delta Bison Herd away from the Delta Agricultural Project, even with the use of supplemental food and salt blocks.

Kimberlee Beckmen, DVM, ADFG, interviewed by Kate Persons

 Kimberlee Beckmen, an ADFG wildlife 

veterinarian, said the potential introduction of 

 bison to the Seward Peninsula raises concerns 

about disease. Of particular concern would be 

the crossover of diseases from bison to muskox 

because of the two species’ susceptibility to 

many of the same diseases. Beckmen reported 

that the following diseases would likely have 

the most serious impacts on wildlife health if 

infected captive-raised bison were ranched on 

 the Seward Peninsula: tuberculosis, bovine viral diarrhea, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, 

parainfluenza 3, Johne’s disease, and various 

nematode parasites.
4

 Ground Reconnaissance of McCarthys 

Marsh on July 26, 2004

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Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

While conducting annual reindeer range 

assessments, Karin Sonnen (Natural 

Resources Conservation Service [NRCS]), 

Randy Meyers (BLM), and Kyle Joly (BLM) 

visited McCarthys Marsh via helicopter from 

Nome. We utilized the NRCS range survey 

(Swanson et al. 1985), which divided and 

mapped the region into differently coded 

ecological sites (ES), to determine study 

locations, which are shown in Figure 2. We 

decided that the Breached Lake Bed ecological site (coded ES-56) had the greatest potential for high bison forage biomass. These wet 

areas generally have greater biomass than 

drier ecological sites. We also looked at Sedge 

Wet Meadow (ES-52), Lichen Tussock Tundra (ES-60) and Mixed Shrub Tundra (ES-32) 

sites. 

McCarthys Marsh covers approximately 

887,000 acres (359,000 ha). Less than 0.4% 

of this falls in the Breached Lake Bed type 

(ES-56 and ES-56-57), whereas 5.3% is Sedge 

Wet Meadow (ES-52, ES-52-32, ES-52-43, 

and ES-52-54) and 12.2% is Lichen Tussock 

Tundra (ES-60, ES-60-34, ES-60-54, ES-60-55, 

and ES-60-56). R. Meyers and K. Joly documented the assessments.

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-08, 

ES-56-57 (65° 07.70′ N, 163° 17.04′ W)

This drained lake bed site appeared as a 

green “island” of about 40–50 acres (16–20 

ha) surrounded by a large, active tundra 

fire. Its high moisture probably preserved 

it from burning in the active fire. Bluejoint 

(Calamagrostis canadensis) formed a dense 

stand of approximately 15–20 acres (6–8 ha) 

on slightly higher, but still moist ground. 

The dominant species in the lower areas of 

* NOTE: Most of the locations shown for Carex 

rostrata in Eric Hultén’s Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories (1968) are actually for Carex utriculata. 

Carex rostrata (beaked sedge) does occur in Alaska, but 

is quite rare (pers. com., Tony Reznicek, Alaska Cyperaceae Workshop, 31 July – 2 August 2003). See also 

pages 117 and 121 in Wetland Sedges of Alaska (Tande 

and Lipkin 2003).

Figure 2. Map of study locations in McCarthys Marsh, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. 

Sites are shown in yellow.

9 0 9 18 km

McCarthys Marsh

.

.

NOME

KOTZEBUE

Bering 

Sea

SEWARD PENINSULA

2004-08

2004-11

2004-12

2004-13

2004-09

2004-10
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Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

Figure 3. Study site 2004-08, a breached lake bed. A tundra fire 

burns actively in the background. The wet nature of this site probably 

prevented it from burning.

Figure 4. Study site 2004-09, a breached lake bed. Note the standing 

water even in this dry year.

saturated substrate and some standing water were Northwest Territory sedge (Carex 

utriculata)*, tall cottongrass (Eriophorum 

angustifolium), water horsetail (Equisetum 

fluviatile), and water sedge (Carex aquatilis). 

Given the extremely dry summer in 2004, the 

moisture content of this ecological site would 

most likely be even higher in a year with more

normal rainfall

Based on her experience at the Fox River 

Flats exclosures near Homer, Karin Sonnen 

said that if bluejoint was grazed at up to 30% 

removal, it could generally persist. However, 

if grazed at a higher rate, about half would 

come back the following year. If high grazing 

intensity continued, it would not recover. If 

allowed to rest, however, bluejoint would recover to good production levels in a few years.

The moist-to-wet substrate at this site 

would not provide suitable access terrain 

for bison use during summer and fall, even 

though the wetland sedges and bluejoint grass 

species present could support limited grazing 

(Figure 3).
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Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

6

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-09, Death Valley, whereas the Breached Lake 

ES-56 (65° 06.070′ N, 163° 15.392′ W) Bed ecological site comprises only 0.4%. The 

Shallow standing water 4–8 inches deep dominant graminoids in Lichen Tussock 

(10–20 cm) with dense stands of water sedge Tundra (e.g., tussock cottongrass [Eriophorum 

and creeping sedge (Carex chordorrhiza) vaginatum], Bigelow’s sedge, and water sedge) 

characterized this breached lake bed site of could provide reasonable summer range, 

approximately 20–25 acres (8–10 ha). Also even though their nutritional value is not as 

present in the water were lesser amounts of high as beaked sedge, Northwest Territories 

tall cottongrass, bladderwort (Utricularia sedge, and slough sedge. As water froze, the 

sp.), marsh fivefinger (Potentilla palustris), breached lake bed would offer better winter 

and Sphagnum moss (Figure 4). Scattered range because of the easy access to high-denbluejoint and round sedge (Carex rotundata) sity water sedge and creeping sedge forage, 

were growing on a low bank adjacent to the even though acreage is limited.

standing water.

Karin Sonnen assessed the emergent stand Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-10, 

of water sedge as very productive at approxi- ES-56 (65° 04.611′ N, 163° 08.660′ W)

mately 800 lb/acre (898 kg/ha). In compari- This site is very similar to 2004-09, with 

son, the adjacent ES-60 (Lichen Tussock standing water and dense water sedge, but 

Tundra) to the north was drier, with much with small scattered stands of bluejoint on ocless water sedge biomass at about 300 lb/ casional low ridges (approximately 5% blueacre (337 kg/ha) (Figure 1). Water sedge is joint cover). Approximately 160 acres (65 ha) 

replaced by Bigelow’s sedge (Carex bigelowii) in size, this ecological site encompasses more 

in Lichen Tussock Tundra in higher, drier acreage than 2004-09.

areas.

On average, 35% of total vascular plant Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-11, 

production in the Lichen Tussock Tundra eco- ES-56 (65° 03.347′ N, 163° 01.784′ W)

logical site is provided by graminoids (sedges, This breached lake bed site was somewhat 

grasses, and rushes) at approximately 200 drier than the previous sites but still had 

lb/acre (225 kg/ha; Swanson et al. 1985). extensive areas of saturated soil, capped 

Lichen Tussock Tundra comprises 12.2% with wet Sphagnum and Calliergon mosses 

of the land area in McCarthys Marsh and as well as numerous clumps of tufted bulFigure 5. Study site 2004-11, a breached lake bed. Note the standing 

water even in this dry year.
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Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

7

rush (Trichophorum caespitosum) and a few ant, comprising 13 (43%) of the 30 vascular 

scattered individuals of water sedge and red plants tallied at this site. The taller, more 

cottongrass (Eriophorum russeolum var. al- conspicuous grasses were Altai fescue 

bidum). The Sphagnum-rich boggy area also (Festuca altaica), wideleaf polargrass (Arccontained dwarf shrubs adapted to cold and tagrostis latifolia var. arundinacea), and 

wet acidic soils, such as bog rosemary (An- bluejoint. Other grasses were widespread in 

dromeda polifolia), leatherleaf (Chamaedaph- Equisetum-rich areas, but short and sparse: 

ne calyculata), and bog cranberry (Oxycoccus alpine holy grass (Hierochloe alpina) and arcmicrocarpus). tic bluegrass (Poa arctica). There were smallSlightly higher and drier ground was domi- er, patchier areas where Bigelow’s sedge and 

nated by round sedge and looseflower alpine grasses were dominant, denser, and larger. 

sedge (Carex rariflora). Well-worn and The most abundant sedges were Bigelow’s 

heavily browsed patches of lichen occurred sedge, northern singlespike sedge (Carex 

on isolated hummocks of drier peat near the scirpoidea), hairlike sedge (Carex capillaris), 

lake. Forming a narrow linear fringe along and shortleaved sedge (Carex misandra). Tall 

portions of the lakeshore were Northwest cottongrass occurred in small isolated stands. 

Territories sedge and marsh fivefinger in Scattered and infrequent cottongrass tusstanding water, as well as scattered stands of socks (Eriophorum vaginatum) assumed odd 

bluejoint in moist soil. Karin Sonnen estimat- shapes—some as tall columns of peat with a 

ed 250–300 lb/acre (281–337 kg/ha) of forage tuft of young leaves growing at the top. Scatsedges and grasses were present at this site tered low- to medium-height shrubs such as 

(Figure 5). tealeaf willow (Salix pulchra), Richardson’s 

We observed more wildlife in McCarthys willow (Salix richardsonii), and dwarf arctic 

Marsh between this site and the last site birch (Betula nana) could provide browse at 

(2004-10) than we saw during the previous various times of the year. There was evi5 days of flying and driving in a much larger dence of heavy use of lichens. The ground was 

region west of the Bendeleben Mountains, scraped down to mineral soil and roots exincluding the Nome and Teller areas. Sight- posed in these areas.

ings included one grizzly bear boar wandering Muskox actively seek Equisetum species 

alone, a sow with three cubs (approximately in the spring, and other ungulate species 

one year old), several pairs of tundra swans, may also find them seasonally attractive. 

one pair of sandhill cranes, several long-tailed The diverse mix of sedges, grasses, rushes, 

jaegers and red-throated loons, and numerous forbs and shrub species at this site, as well 

dropped Rangifer antlers. as its firm substrate, offers a variety of grazing and browsing possibilities. For the Sedge 

Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-12, Wet Meadow ecological site type, graminoids 

ES-52-32 (65° 14.346′ N, 162° 22.366′ W) account for an average of 60% of its biomass 

This site was in Death Valley, a small val- production (vascular plant), or approximately 

ley perched on the northeast shoulder of the 340 lb/acre (382 kg/ha) (Swanson et al. 1985).

Darby Mountains, adjacent and northeast of 

McCarthys Marsh. It is also included in the Bison Range Assessment Site 2004-13, 

region where the BLM does not permit rein- ES-56 (65° 10′ N, 162° 20′ W)

deer grazing. This upland, south-facing We conducted an aerial reconnaissance of 

location is actually a complex of two ecolog- this breached lake bed site southwest of Camp 

ical sites, Sedge Wet Meadow (ES-52) and Haven (in Death Valley) but did not land due 

Mixed Shrub Tundra (ES-32). From the air to time constraints. We estimated 300–400 

it had a bright green appearance due to acres (120–160 ha) of drier, shrubbier terrain 

widespread field horsetail (Equisetum compared to the breached lake bed sites visitarvense). ed in McCarthys Marsh. There was much less 

This site contained grasses, a diverse mix standing water and more low shrubs, some 

of sedges, a rush, and dwarf and low/medium stands of cottongrass (Eriophorum spp.), and 

shrubs and forbs. Graminoids were abund- generally good sedge biomass. We did not see 
8

 any stands of bluejoint. Graminoid production/

biomass seemed comparable to sites visited in 

McCarthys Marsh. A large bull moose, tundra 

swans, and numerous ducks were present.

Ground Reconnaissance Summary for 

McCarthys Marsh and Death Valley

Our ground reconnaissance showed that the 

modest amount of Breached Lake Bed habitat in McCarthys Marsh and Death Valley 

is characterized by wet, soft substrate that 

supports a relatively low sedge and grass 

biomass of low forage quality. Areas with 

stands of sedges of higher forage quality 

(Northwest Territory sedge) occur in standing water, potentially available only in winter 

when the ground and water are frozen. Sedge 

Wet Meadow habitat, also limited in acreage, 

has drier substrate and a more diverse mix of 

sedges and grasses but offers relatively low 

biomass and forage quality.

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Assessment of the Potential for Bison Introduction and Grazing in McCarthys Marsh

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend that the BLM not support the 

introduction and free-range herding of American plains bison (Bison bison bison) or wood 

bison (B. bison athabascae) to McCarthys 

Marsh on the Seward Peninsula for the following reasons (not in any particular order): 

 1. Low biomass of bison forage species 

 2. Lack of State of Alaska support 

 3. Wet summer conditions 

 4. Potential conflict with moose, caribou, 

muskox, reindeer, fish, and wetland and 

riparian species

 5. Potential of emigration and founding of 

new, feral populations of bison

 6. Potential spread of diseases

 7. Starvation threat to introduced individual 

bison

 8. Threats to fragile, diverse, productive, and 

unusual habitat

 9. Lack of benefit to the majority of local 

people

10. Potential local opposition

REFERENCES

Griffin, B. and D. M. Johnson. 1994. Wildlife 

Notebook Series: American bison. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Juneau, Alaska. 

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/

biggame/bison.php

Hultén, E. 1968. Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories. Stanford University Press, 

Stanford, California. 1008 pp.

Rasic, J. T. and P. E. Matheus. 2007. A reconsideration of purported Holocene bison bones 

from northern Alaska. Arctic 60:381–388.

Reynolds, H. W., R. M. Hansen and D. G. 

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