Saturday, October 26th

Utah holding annual bison roundup on Great Salt Lake island

Riders herd bison during the annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. The roundup on Antelope Island is conducted over three fall weekends, with the first devoted to the actual roundup and the next two to health checks and vaccinations and to releasing the animals or selling some to keep the herd's size manageable. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Hundreds of horseback riders are again conducting the annual roundup of bison on an island in Utah's Great Salt Lake.

The roundup on Antelope Island that began Saturday is conducted over three fall weekends, with the first devoted to the actual roundup and the next two to health checks and vaccinations and to releasing the animals or selling some to keep the herd's size manageable.

Bison have occupied the island about 25 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Salt Lake City, for over 120 years, after a dozen were brought there by a homesteader. There are now 775 bison on the island.

The island is a state park and has no natural predators to keep the herd from growing, and there's a limited amount of grass for the bison to eat.

KyAnn Betz wears her bison hat during the annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Riders are shown on horseback annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Riders herd bison during the roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Riders are shown during the annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

A rider is shown during the annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

A rider prepares her horse before the start of the annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

A rider climbs on his horse before the start of the annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Ed Valdez, of the Weber County Mounted Sheriffs Posse, loads his pistol with 22 caliber bird shot, before the start of the annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Bison run during the annual bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. The roundup on Antelope Island is conducted over three fall weekends, with the first devoted to the actual roundup and the next two to health checks and vaccinations and to releasing the animals or selling some to keep the herd's size manageable. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

A rider participates in the bison roundup Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. The roundup on Antelope Island is conducted over three fall weekends, with the first devoted to the actual roundup and the next two to health checks and vaccinations and to releasing the animals or selling some to keep the herd's size manageable. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

A bison looks through the grass Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, on Antelope Island in Utah. Hundreds of horseback riders are conducting the annual roundup of bison on the island in Utah's Great Salt Lake. The roundup on Antelope Island is conducted over three fall weekends, with the first devoted to the actual roundup and the next two to health checks and vaccinations and to releasing the animals or selling some to keep the herd's size manageable. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)