'The 6,000 acres (2,428 hectares) Cross Ranch Preserve is located along the Missouri River in central North Dakota, near Hensler. The bison herd started with the introduction of 14 animals purchased from a private rancher in North Dakota in 1986. The starter herd's lineage was primarily from Custer State Park in South Dakota, with additions to the herd from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the late 1980s. The herd of 129 head currently resides on 3,050 acres (1,235 hectares) of northern mixed grass prairie, consisting of two separate units. Plans call for an ultimate herd of 160 over-wintering bison grazing on 3,710 acres (1,501 hectares) by the year 2003.'

Acknowledgements

This article is a lightly edited reproduction of source material provided to docents of the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve by The Nature Conservancy for dissemination to the public.