LARS welcomes Fairbanks community for annual Locals Day
By Adisen Thomas
Muskox receives attention from visitors during Locals Day.
The R.G. White Large Animal Research Station, or LARS, collected 1,797 pounds of food for the Fairbanks Community Food Bank during its annual Locals Day on Saturday, Sept. 12. The event invited Fairbanks-area residents to visit the 130-acre facility north of Fairbanks to learn about the reindeer, muskoxen and wood bison herds. Instead of an admission feel, LARS asked visitors to bring three nonperishable food items to support local food security efforts.
The expansive 130-acre facility welcomes students, residents, curious visitors and researchers. In addition to public education, LARS serves as a way to help repopulate herds across Alaska by housing, caring for and monitoring wood bison.
Since its founding in 1979, LARS has played an important role in Alaska’s conservation and research efforts. A recent initiative overseen by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game has brought a herd of wood bison to support in restoration efforts across their natural range. “It’s really incredible working with these animals,” said Jack Holtgren, an ADF&G employee. “It’s one of the most radical restoration efforts.”
Caribou skull and antlers displayed for visitors to observe during Locals Day.
In 2022, a collaboration between ADF&G and Elk Island National Park in Canada brought 40 bison calves by truck across the Canadian border to LARS. A three-year-old female wood bison gave birth in early 2024, marking the first wood bison calf born at the facility. LARS now holds over 50 wood bison and continues to work alongside ADF&G.
Inside a tent overlooking the herds of reindeer, tables displayed qiviut wool, the fine, insulating fiber from a muskox’s undercoat. According to Yash Trivedi of Textilesphere it is about eight times warmer than sheep’s wool of the same weight. Visitors were encouraged to observe different bones, skulls, and samples of the wool.
Outreach specialist Maddy Webb explained how research, education, and outreach are all important aspects of LARS. “Research is one whole side of us, but we also prioritize education– once people know about something and have that knowledge, they care so much more about it.”
“Scientific research isn’t always the easiest to understand and digest, and so we really focus on education and outreach,” Webb explained. LARS invites visitors and students for seasonal tours, field trips and special events like Locals Day.
Table displaying qiviut wool samples and ungulate skulls for visitors to examine during Locals Day.
“The veterinary medicine program at UAF came out and did a physical on a reindeer– what other program does that?” Webb added on the topic of education. Reba Huffman, a LARS employee and UAF veterinary student, agreed, explaining that the facility offers a unique hands-on learning opportunity for veterinary students.
For Webb, the connection between visitors and the animals is one of the most rewarding parts of the event.
“So many people come here and have never seen a muskox before, or maybe a reindeer or wood bison. Seeing people get excited over that is my favorite thing,” Webb said.
The event concluded at 4 p.m., marking the end of LARS’ summer touring season. As visitors left the event, the animals remained in the fields, returning to the daily routine of life at the research station.