The Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory announced today (May 23, 2002) a modification to its site security policies. Taking effect immediately, visitors may come to Fermilab’s Pine Street entrance and request a Buffalo Viewing Pass. The pass allows unescorted visitors to drive to the buffalo pasture to view the herd of about 60 buffalo, including more than 20 young animals born in the past four weeks. Driving is restricted to selected roads leading to and from the buffalo pasture.
This change in policy supplements an announcement made in March of this year, which led to the admission of pedestrians and bicyclists to the site. For pedestrians, however, viewing the buffalo requires a strenuous mile-long hike. The new policy will allow everybody, including families with small children, to get easily to the pasture where the young buffalo run around under the watchful eyes of “Mom and Dad Buffalo.”
Visitors must use the Pine Street entrance to obtain the Buffalo Viewing Pass, and access is granted from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. There is no fee. For more information call 630-840-3351 during business hours.
On May 28, the last buffalo baby was born. This makes a total of 24 newborns at Fermilab.
To learn more about Fermilab’s buffalo, please visit our Web site atwww.fnal.gov/pub/about/campus/ecology/wildlife/bison.html
Fermilab is a Department of Energy national laboratory, operated by Universities Research Association, Inc.
Editors:
To obtain a buffalo photo, please go to www.fnal.gov/pub/presspass/vismedia/ and type in the keyword “buffalo.” Please credit the photo to Fermilab.