DEPARTMENT: Parks, Facilities, and Fleet Management
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
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Authorization To Donate And Transfer Four Bison To Minnesota Department Of Natural Resources
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 20-571 (November 17, 2020), the Dakota County Board approved the design for the bison range project and authorized a contract amendment to retain WSB Associates for the completion of design services through the full delivery of the project; and
WHEREAS, with all the required infrastructure in place, eight bison cows were reintroduced to Spring Lake Park Reserve in the fall of 2022 at no cost to the County; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County joined the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd (MBCH), the goal of which is to establish a statewide bison herd of 500 animals to ensure the herd’s long-term sustainability; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County’s bison are a part of the statewide herd; and
WHEREAS, seven of those first bison came from Minnesota State Parks and one came from the Zollman Zoo; and
WHEREAS, four male calves were born in the spring of 2023, and they will be approaching breeding age in 2025; and
WHEREAS, to prevent the possible mating with familial females in the herd and to help keep the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd (MBCH) genetically healthy, these four males must be removed from the Dakota County herd during the fall of 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County Board has the authority to transfer the bison to another public corporation under Minn. Stat. § 471.85, which states, “Any county, city, town, or school district may transfer its personal property for a nominal or without consideration to another public corporation for public use when duly authorized by its governing body”; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends that Dakota County transfer/donate the four male bison to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) during the fall 2024 bison management day; and
WHEREAS, the DNR will work with the Tonka Fund and/or the Intertribal Bison Council to provide excess bison from the MBCH, including Dakota County’s four male bison, to an Indigenous nation or community for their use; and
WHEREAS, at this time, a bull may be transferred to Spring Lake Park Reserve to breed with the females in the herd, assisting the MBCH in growing and adding important genetic material to the Statewide herd.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the donation and transfer of four male bison to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in fall 2024.
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