Demand San Francisco Rec And Park Provide Bison With Healthy Grazing Vegetation

  • by: Kim Forwood
  • recipient: San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, Parks Manager Phil Ginsburg, and Park Commission President Mark Buell

San Francisco's Bison herd is cared for by the San Francisco Zoo. The herd lives in Golden Gate Park, and it is the responsibility of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to maintain the Bison Paddock.

The Rec and Park have neglected to maintain the grounds for the past many years, resulting in the lack of appropriate and healthy grazing vegetation. The landscape of their two meadows has been void of regular watering, and left to dry out completely. The only bit of green is when rare rain happens to sprout regrowth where it's still possible. San Francisco did not have any rain this spring, and so the Bison have been almost exclusively left with a dried out brown meadow. This has been the state of the meadows consistently for over a year.

Bison are grazing Animals. They reportedly naturally graze nine hours a day. This grazing supplements their daily diet that is provided by SFZoo Keepers. ... The photo with this Petition is a screencap from the Bison cam. It shows the state of the main meadow, as well apparently the Keepers have put out extra hay in the meadow in addition to their regular sheltered feeding area.

Please note, this is solely an issue with the SF Rec and Park, regarding the vegetation. ... The Bison are healthy and well cared for by the SFZoo Animal Care Staff.  ... For extended added text on this please view the end of this.  Thank you.

Here is a video I took the other day. One of the ladies was looking for something edible to graze on. There are also now bowls in the meadow, which are probably filled with grain to also supplement their diet since they can not graze.

https://youtu.be/7eqy-a_ZuqQ

I have been vocal about this before. The Rec and Park are aware this is an issue. They just don't care. 

It's time that changes.  By signing this Petition, you are Demanding the San Francisco Rec and Park Dept DO THEIR JOB.  

Please sign and share this Petition and help these Bison ladies get some greenery! ... For expanded details and more photos, please view my blog post at
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2022/06/petition-to-rec-and-park-city-of-san.html

ADDED 6.29.22

I do want to reiterate that this is a supplemental vegetation issue, that is the responsibility of the SF Rec and Park.  The Rec and Park are required to maintain the enclosure, which means keeping the vegetation healthy. The Rec and Park control the sprinkler system. ... The Bison are healthy and well taken care of by SFZoo Animal Care Staff.  They are fed daily and given extra food to compensate for what they are not getting from grazing.  They are not going hungry.  That said, they do need that green vegetation, not only for extra intake and but because grazing is part of their natural behavior.  It's what they do and that needs to be replicated in a captive environment.

Update #21 years ago
Thank you for your support.

The position of the San Francisco Rec and Park continues to be an apparent a**-covering. They have neglected the Bison Paddock for years and will not take responsibility. They say there is current attention to the issue. That doesn't address the long standing neglect.

Read my latest post for more.
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2022/07/and-furthermore-another-reponse-from.html
Update #11 years ago
Thank you for adding your name and being a voice for these Bison Ladies. ... The San Francisco Rec and Park emailed me and took the position that they are not responsible for maintaining the enclosure, even though it is clearly stated on their website that they are. What are they trying to pull? ... Full details on my blog post... https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2022/06/rec-and-park-responds-puts.html
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