Camp Pendleton bison herd

The Camp Pendleton herd is one of the dozen bison herds that are owned by the U.S. federal government and managed by an assortment of agencies including the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense (by way of the Pendleton Game Warden's Office).

[3][5] The Camp Pendleton herd was founded by a dozen or so bison from the San Diego Zoo that were delivered in fits and starts between 1973 and 1978.

[15] The herd often lingers near Margarita Peak,[12] in the Case Springs area of the base, and are a familiar sight to the firefighters stationed there.

[15] As one account put it, migration to the forest would necessitate "crossing San Mateo Canyon, walking up a creek bed and then climbing 3,000 feet (910 m).

[8] Bison with apparent leg injuries may have stepped on unexploded ordnance but there's no clear evidence either proving or disproving that hypothesis.

[2] The base subsequently posted "bison crossing" warning signs (some of which were quickly stolen and had to be replaced with less-attractive versions).

[2] There are also bison herds at two Canadian military installations, Camp Wainwright and Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range.