For generations now a large herd of bison has been roaming Antelope Island in Davis County. Introduced in 1893, the bison have grown, and become a part of the island ecosystem, and synonymous with the sweeping vistas of the island. In order to keep them happy, and healthy, along with the island ecosystem, however, outside measures need to be taken, at least once a year.

“We have a really healthy bison herd,” said Trish Ackley, Park Naturalist for Antelope Island State Park, “with no bison predators. It’s up to us to manage our population size.” In order to do that, park officials need to have their finger on the pulse of the bison herd and population, sometimes literally. The whole process begins a year before the roundup, evaluating the current year’s event, and finding out how to do things better the next year.

In addition to managing the population, the roundup is essential for maintaining a happy and healthy herd. Following the roundup, park officials and volunteers pamper the animals by feeding and watering the bison and letting them cool down for about a week. “It’s a whole process,” said Ackley. The park biologist and his team will check the health and weight of each individual animal, as well as check for pregnancies among the herd. Following this, 100-250 animals will be selected for public auction, keeping the herd to a manageable size, while the rest of the animals are set loose to roam the island once more.

For the roundup itself, however, the 200 recruited horseback herders will round up the herd, which currently sits at nearly 800, and drive them to the coral for the colder months. For the public, there’s even more in store. Ackley and her team have organized an entire event, including food trucks, pony rides, and crafts, all starting at 10 in the morning on the day of the roundup. “We’ll eat, play and craft until the bison come in,” said Ackley, and that, she said is truly the highlight of the event.

“It’s very powerful to watch,” said Ackley, and attendees don’t really need to worry about missing it. As the herd approaches, they will “feel the earth rumble,” and hear the herd snorting as they approach the finish line. It’s an amazing opportunity to see these immense, powerful creatures in action, in person, and in the safest way possible. It seems word has gotten out about the event, and year after year, it’s one of the best attended on the island.

In years past, Ackley explained, if weather is bad, attendance hovers around 800-900 people, but, if the sun is out, and temperatures are mild, that number skyrockets to around 3,000-4,000. It’s a fantastic opportunity to not only see these animals in a completely unique way, but also to learn about them, and why they are so important to the region. When the event is over, it starts over again as Ackley and the park “reflect on what happened this year,” and make plans for the following year. 

The Antelope Island Bison Roundup will take place this year on ​​Oct. 26, 2024, with activities for the public kicking off at 10 a.m. at the White Rock Bay viewing area. The herd is expected to come by at around 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., but, as Ackley put it, “They are animals, with their own sense of humor.” More information on the roundup and activities can be found at stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island/bison-roundup.