Bloomington, Indiana — Indiana University is ushering in a new era with the return of its bison mascot.
The bison has a history at Indiana University, having served as the mascot in the 1960s. It has a long history in Indiana, and there are still several places where you can see live bison.
Ouabache State Park in Bluffton is located approximately three hours northeast of Bloomington. The Efroymsom Prairie at Kankakee Sands in Newton County is located approximately three hours to the northwest. People can visit the bison in both parks.
“Our bison came from Pokagon State Park, which were descendants of Yellowstone,” said Tyrone Jessup, assistant property manager at Ouabache State Park.
He claimed that wood bison were more native to Indiana, but the park has plains bison.
“Which usually tend to be around 200 or 300 pounds lighter, but most of the features are the same,” he told me.
While wood bison were thought to be extinct by the early 1900s, they have been reintroduced to their native ranges throughout North America. They are now classified as a federally threatened species.
At Kankakee Sands, a bison herd of 100 grazes on over 1,000 acres of prairie.
“By the late 1800s, bison were no longer free roaming in Indiana,” explained Olivia Schouten, bison manager at Kankakee Sands. “European settlers came to the state, and we turned prairie into agricultural land. Increased hunting pressure eventually pushed the bison range further west.”
According to IU Athletics’ history, the bison first appeared on official court documents signed by Indiana Territory Governor and future United States President William Henry Harrison in 1801. The Indiana Territory seal showed a woodsman chopping trees while a bison ran in the foreground. Since then, the bison has been an integral part of Indiana’s state seal.
Hoosier the Bison, IU’s mascot, first appeared in 1965. IU stated that the original plan was not to have a costumed character, but rather to purchase a live bison that would be housed at Brown County State Park when not on campus for gamedays or special events.
According to IU, state and university officials warned students about the dangers of keeping a live bison, so they went with Plan B: a bison costumed mascot. The first bison mascot debuted just in time for the year’s final game, the Old Oaken Bucket game, on November 20, 1965.
According to IU, the mascot had a few strong years before losing student and fan support by the end of the 1969 season, resulting in the long hiatus.
But, just as the mascot eventually returned, live bison were brought back to Indiana in captivity thanks to the efforts of organizations such as Kankakee Sands and Ouabache State Park.
Schouten believes bison are an important part of Indiana’s ecosystem.
“As they graze grasses, they create more space for wildflowers to grow which then supports pollinators and butterflies and produce seeds that mice eat and you can then imagine the predators that are then able to have food from there and on and on,” she told me. “You can just connect all these species back together by bringing bison back to a prairie.”
Jessup stated that they have seven to ten bison on their 20-acre enclosure, including a baby born in May.
“Our second to oldest female, she’s got quite a personality,” he observed. “She’s the one that usually has the calves lately, but she’s protective.”
Just as the Hoosiers will protect their quarterback on the field, Schouten and Jessup believe the bison mascot will embody the animal’s instincts and spirit in a positive way for the team.
“They are a herd animal, so they work together as a team,” Schouten explained. “They can turn around in really tight spaces, they can jump up to six feet high.”
“People don’t understand how athletic a bison is,” according to Jessup. “They can reach speeds of 35-40 mph. They’re huge and intimidating. They have a certain aura about them that commands respect.”
Every Saturday morning at 10 a.m., Ouabache State Park hosts bison feeding events where you can see the bison up close.
The bison viewing area at Kankakee Sands is open from sunrise to sunset. The conservatory recently renovated its visitor areas, adding new shaded pavilions.
IU, which is currently ranked No. 20 in the nation, will face Old Dominion on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
