Once a year, the bison at the Fort Worth Nature Center are rounded up for health checkups. This year's roundup moved nine bison through a series of gates and into a chute, one at a time. Jared Hall, natural resource supervisor at the center, said the animals become more anxious once they are penned. The team uses herd behavior to help, and Hall said that if a mother goes into the chute first, the babies usually follow.
Once inside, the bison are dewormed and checked for parasites. They also receive vaccines for respiratory disease, and female bison get a brucellosis shot, Hall said.
The bison graze across about 240 acres of pasture at the center. Hall said they are historically part of the area and play a key role in managing the land. The roundup also gives students in Texas Christian University's ranch management program hands-on experience. They help move the animals and learn about bison behavior.