The San Diego gifted just over a dozen North American Bison to the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. 50 years later, 90 of them now roam the base, reports CBS8.
The 220 square miles exist without much human impact and therefore has allowed several animal species to thrive, even some critically endangered species.
“Camp Pendleton has a population of Pacific Pocket Mice, and then there’s the Arroyo Toad," Camp Pendleton’s Game Warden Michael Tucker told CBS8.
Tens of millions of bison used to roam North America, but hunting dwindled their numbers. Although their population has now reached stable numbers, they are still considered to be a near-threatened species.
“This particular population comes from the plains of Kansas,” said Tucker “The San Diego Zoo had them in their exhibits and they were looking for another home for them. So between 1973-1978, the zoo gradually moved a herd of 14 bison to the base.”
Since then the population has grown to what it is today. Because they have no natural predators, the bison at Camp Pendleton are some of the biggest around.
“Maybe some are up to 2,000 pounds because we don’t have a harsh winter,” said Tucker.
Camp Pendleton keeps an eye on them but doesn't interfere and lets their population fluctuate naturally.
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