Roam Over To The Bison Paddock

We’re heading out from the ponds of the Golden Gate Casting and Angling Club. It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump to our next stop. As we approach John F. Kennedy Boulevard, again, we come across a site you won’t find on any map — but one that locals return to year after year. There’s a patch of cherry blossom trees. Beautiful, for sure, but they’re not the draw, actually. Beside them, about 30 feet up one of the park’s majestic tall trees, there’s a nest. A great horned owl nest. Year after year, the owls return to the same spot. Right now, though, we’re crossing the street to see some much bigger creatures. Much, much bigger. We’re going to the bison paddock. For well over a century, Golden Gate Park has hosted a herd of these 900-pound hoofed and hairy beasts. They were originally brought in as part of a nationwide conservation effort. So why are they still here? Laura Klivans gets some answers from people who care for the bison in their home on the west side of the park.