Native Prairie Speaker Series Webinar: The genetic legacy of the 1880s near extinction of Bison
Speaker: Merek Wigness, Rancher
Tuesday September 23rd, 2025 at 12:00pm
Register Free: https://shorturl.at/a4V3t
Everyone is welcome to attend! This webinar is FREE! Tune-in from anywhere!
About this Webinar:
The last 200 years of Bison history is a truly epic story. Bison narrowly missed going extinct in the 1880's which would have been an unspeakable loss. Thankfully a diverse group of ranchers, First Nations, Government and NGOs were able to save bison from extinction. The recovery of the bison population has been one of the greatest success stories in conservation. However, modern bison retain a legacy from the near extinction event. Merek will speak about genetic diversity in Bison, the situation with the Woods and Plains subspecies, as well as the story of cattle introgression in Bison.
About the Speaker:
Merek Wigness has worked in plant research with Agriculture Canada in Saskatoon for over 20 years. He has also been actively involved with Bison on his family bison ranch. Merek is Vice-President of the Saskatchewan Bison Association and a director with the Canadian Bison Association.
This webinar is part of Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan’s Native Prairie Speaker Series. It is a FREE presentation, and open to the public.