Bison Will Be Brought to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

The bison will be coming to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie outside of Joliet, near Wilmington in rural western Will County.

When, we don’t know yet.

But the bison will arrive after the prairie is prepared. Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Supervisor Wade Spang recently signed a final decision notice and a finding of no significant impact for the bison introduction and grazing project experiment.

The herd will include a mix of younger and mature animals. Facilities will need to built on the prairie land nearby, including pasture fences, water sources, corrals and storage buildings, as part of the experiment. Trails and overlooks for visitors also must be built.

“This project is the result of a partnership with the National Forest Foundation (NFF) and other partners. The NFF’s sponsorship and help has been instrumental in providing the opportunity to bring bison to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie,” Spang said in a statement. “All of us have been working on this project for a long time. Through public meetings and comment periods, we have heard from the public and incorporated their comments into the environmental assessment. Public support for the bison project has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The effort to bring bison to Midewin began in 2012.

For more information about Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, an on-going lecture series, volunteer opportunities, or other planned projects at the Prairie, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/midewin