Genetically Pure Bison Return To Northern Colorado

<p>U.S. Department of Agriculture</p>
<p>Bison like these are expected to be released onto open space north of Fort Collins.</p>
Picture: Buffalo USDA
Bison like these are expected to be released onto open space north of Fort Collins.

a years-long effort to return home a species once on the brink of extinction.

The Coloradoan reports the Laramie Foothills Conservation Herd, made up of 10 bison, will be moved to Fort Collins' Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Larimer County's Red Mountain Open Space. The move will take place on Nov. 1, National Bison Day.

The bison, which were born using assistive reproductive technology, are currently being held at ColoradoState University's Foothills Campus. University researchers joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture in using genes from quarantined bison in Yellowstone National Park to create disease-free, genetically pure bison.

The herd will roam 800 acres of their species' native land.