Colorado National Monument
Bison-tennial: John Otto’s Wild Experiment
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<p class="p1">Explore the history of John Otto’s 1925 introduction of bison to Colorado National Monument and learn how this experimental herd influenced the Monument’s ecology and management for decades to come.</p>
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<div class="body3"><span class="TextRun SCXW186796988 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186796988 BCX0">Join us for a special Monument on Tap with Resiliency Ranger, Amber Martin and Volunteer in Park, Terri Ahern as they uncover the story of the bison brought to Colorado National Monument by John Otto in 1925. Explore the history of the Monument’s bison herd, Otto’s vision for wildlife on the Monument, and the unintended consequences of introducing bison to this fragile desert landscape. The evening will also feature a rare bison skull from a distant descendant within Colorado National Monument’s original bison bloodline, now part of COLM’s collection and gifted by Badlands National Park.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW186796988 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}"> </span></div>
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<p><strong>Details: </strong><span data-contrast="none"><strong> </strong> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559738":0,"335559739":240}"> </span></p>
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<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><strong>Date:</strong><span data-contrast="none"><strong> </strong>Wednesday, August 5th, 2026</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":551,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><strong>Time:</strong> 6:00 pm- Please come early to order food and drinks. <strong>The talk will start at 6:30 pm</strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":551,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><strong>Location:</strong><span data-contrast="none"><strong> </strong>Desierto Rojo- 233 E. Aspen Ave. Fruita, CO 81521 </span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":551,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}"> </span></li>
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<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><strong>Registration</strong><strong><span data-contrast="none">:</span></strong><span data-contrast="none"> Please make an RSVP for each attendee. <strong>You must have a RSVP to attend this program-</strong> There is limited seating.</span></li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Jeff and Marlen, the owners of Desierto Rojo, have generously offered to <strong>close their restaurant to the public during our program</strong> so we can have a quieter space where everyone will be able to comfortably hear the speaker. In appreciation of their generosity, we kindly ask that each RSVP purchase at least one food or drink item from their menu during the event. If you are not planning to order anything, we ask that you please leave the RSVP spot open for someone else who is willing to support Desierto Rojo.<span data-ccp-props="{"335551550":1,"335551620":1}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><strong>Thank you for helping us support local businesses that support our community! </strong></li>
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