Where To? Howard Douglas, Superintendent of Rocky Mountains (Banff) Park had been appointed to oversee the shipment of buffalo into Canada. The schedule permitted loading at Ravalli, transportation to Edmonton, then a switch to Canadian Northern line, with Lamont, Alberta as their destination. As the Battle River area location was not yet prepared to accommodate them, Elk Island Park was chosen as a stopover for the first two shipments from Montana. Its sixteen square miles had been reserved in 1904 as an elk sanctuary and was subsequently surrounded by strong wire fences. The Park’s northern perimeter was very near Lamont where the imported cargo was to be unloaded. A temporary but secure fence was constructed to channel the bison to the park boundary where they remained until 1909 when 325 head in 26 cars were transported to what was now allowed the title Buffalo National Park. The stragglers finding refuge in the many poplar bluffs remained at Elk Island and became added attractions for the Park’s many tourists. Loading at Ravalli For one seemingly endless week Pablo’s hired assistants struggled to load their powerful captives. With amazing agility for animals weighing nearly a ton, the bison charged, climbed and sometimes shattered the planks and timbers that imprisoned them. Once inside the rail car, each occupant was separated by a thick plank gate. The stalls contained water troughs and feed boxes for the long trip ahead. At Douglas’ request the railway had fortified the cars to accommodate the huge passengers, however, one bull’s determination to be free ended in death when he broke through a car wall. After his destruction, immediate dispersal of meat, hide, and head made the loss bearable. Pablo’s Progress Pablo lost only five bison during the weeklong loading of his first shipment to Canada. Three more died after arriving at Lamont, perhaps injury or shock. In June of 1907, Elk Island Park welcomed 196 temporary guests. Pablo inspected the wooded grazing area and feared the type of grasses and dense bush cover may not be suitable for the plains bison. Unfortunately, the alternate location would not be ready for yet another year. Pablo resigned to that fact, returned to Montana to begin the next roundup. October saw a second shipment of approximately 200 head arrive at Lamont. Shortly afterward eleven buffalo were found mired in muskeg, only one surviving the ordeal after being pulled out by ropes and horses. Pablo anticipated future difficulties in collecting the now scattered and depleted herds within the Reservation. He commissioned the erection of an eight-mile fence in 1908. This would simplify the roundup somewhat, providing a barricade and guide to drive the herd toward Ravalli. But 1908 was to be an unproductive year. After a slow start and various complications, the cowboys successfully corralled 120 buffalo only to have them stampede and climb an almost perpendicular clay-cut bank to their freedom. Recapture was unlikely, as the animals were frightened and winter was approaching. Pablo regretfully notified his Canadian contacts. In July and October 1909, Pablo shipped 218 buffalo directly to Wainwright. The following seasons resulted in little success. Parts of the wing fence used in directing the herd, had been destroyed, perhaps intentionally. Only two small shipments were dispersed. Finally in 1911, Pablo contracted Charles Allard Jr. to round up the remaining few buffalo. The last shipment of 7 plains bison was received at Wainwright in 1912, completing the contract between Canada and Michel Pablo.