Buffalo National Park It’s Buffalo On March 7, 1908 an Order of Council named the 160 square miles of Dominion Lands near Wainwright, a national buffalo park. It was not officially acclaimed Buffalo National Park until March 27, 1913. By that time, all retrievable buffalo from Pablo’s herd and Elk Island Park were present and accounted for. Including the additional 30 bison, their population increasing by an average of 20% yearly. Elk, moose and deer shared the confines and the pasture, which may have threatened the buffalo’s food supply periodically. In winter the buffalo were driven to their fenced feeding grounds near Park Farm. Grasses were allowed to grow tall and undisturbed in this area during the summer. This made foraging easier for the bison, who often use a swish of their head to clear a spot rather than pawing the snow away. Supplement feed, baled from the farm’s hay meadows, was distributed throughout the winter. When the lakes froze over, the buffalo ate snow for their liquid intake, although a sluice - like trough system was later designed for their watering needs. During their thirty years at Buffalo National Park, the bison’s increased numbers necessitated scheduled kills, eventually ending in their complete removal. Bovine tuberculosis was detected in a large portion of the slaughtered animals. This may or may not have lessened their productivity and it was undetermined how their mortality rate would have been affected. Younger, presumably unafflicted animals made up the shipment of approximately 6600 bison that were shipped to Wood Buffalo Park from 1925 to 1928. It’s Administration Edward Ellis transferred from Banff to become Buffalo National Park’s first superintendent. His replacement in 1912, W.E.D. McTaggart held position until 1916 when Alfred G. Smith began. Smith continued until his retirement and the Park’s closure in 1940. The Park administration office for 20 years was located near the superintendent’s residence but later moved to the federal building in Wainwright. Buildings for Park personnel were constructed throughout the next few years. An additional 36 square miles of crop and hay land was acquired, establishing the Park Farm area. A winter range for the buffalo was created by cross - fencing 12,000 acres segregating the southeastern portion of the Park to be used for agricultural purposes. The Park was divided into two districts, each with a warden: Bud Cotton (1912 - 1940) on the west side; Hi Dunning (1912 - 1925) and Ray Sharp (1925 - 1940) on the east. Farm foremen over the years were: L. Balettie 1909 - 1913; W. Douglas 1913 - 1915; H. Walker 1915 - 1935; and D. Folkins 1935 - 1940. Most lived on Park Farm, their children attending Park Road School, which was a few miles north and west of the farm. The north gate was tended by: G. Anderson 1909 - 1910; W. Terpenning 1910 - 1915; and D. Davidson 1917 - 1938. The gatekeeper’s residence was just inside the main Park entry. Mrs. Alexander cared for the south gate from 1909 - 1945. A trip to Hardisty or Hughenden entailed traversing the dusty or muddy roads across the Park, with the occasional detour to avoid the grazing bison. Thirty years saw growth and change, the farm producing adequate fodder, and a stable source of revenue was generated by the sale of hides and meat contracts. This was an operation that paid its own way.