CSKT Bison Range, Wildlife refuge in Lake County, Montana.
The CSKT Bison Range is a nature reserve of about 18,524 acres (7,496 ha) on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana, protecting intermountain bunchgrass prairie, Douglas fir and ponderosa pine forests, riparian areas and ponds. Its herd numbers 350 adult bison, with 50–60 calves born each year. A sign at the headquarters reads "HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL BISON RANGE" and "ESTABLISHED 1908 WITH AID OF AMERICAN BISON SOCIETY".
The refuge was established in 1908 to protect bison populations that had declined dramatically by that time. It was created within the Flathead Indian Reservation using land owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
The range returned to Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes management in 2022 after nearly two decades of negotiation. A white bison named Big Medicine (1933–1959) lived here; tribal members visited him to pray and held him in high esteem. The Montana Historical Society and the state have committed to transferring his preserved remains back to the tribe.
Visitors can drive two scenic routes, Red Sleep Drive and Prairie Drive, which form a combined loop of approximately 19 miles. Early mornings and late afternoons offer the best chances to spot animals, when they are most active.
A white bison named Big Medicine lived at the range from 1933 to 1959; tribal members visited him to pray and held him in high esteem. After his death the Montana Historical Society arranged to preserve and display him, and the state has since committed to returning him to the tribes.
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