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Ted Turner has driven along U.S. 36 into Boulder countless times and seen the iconic Flatirons, snow-capped mountains and red-roofed buildings that line the University of Colorado campus.

But for him, a natural scene of beauty is still missing. And he’d like to change that.

The CNN founder has offered to donate 20 young buffalo to the city of Boulder for a herd that can be viewed along U.S. 36 between the Davidson Mesa and town, he announced during a local visit Friday.

The chief executive of the media mogul’s Ted’s Montana Grill operation and Boulder City Councilman George Karakehian came up with the idea to reintroduce the native species on at least 200 acres on the side of the Boulder Turnpike.

“The city of Boulder will have an ecosystem that is pretty much exactly like it was 300 years ago — right here for local citizens to see,” Turner told the Camera. “It will be an attraction.”

Turner, who has donated the last couple of “Ralphie” buffalo as the CU football team’s mascot, said it was natural to want to bring bison to Boulder.

And perhaps the next Ralphie can be picked from the local herd, Karakehian said.

“That’s a great idea,” said Turner, who wore a buffalo-specked tie as he sat in a booth at Boulder’s 1-year-old Ted’s Montana Grill on Friday morning.

Turner, 72, was joined for the announcement by Karakehian and George McKerrow Jr., the CEO of Ted’s Montana Grill.

McKerrow said the buffalo herd would serve as a visually inviting sight for visitors descending into Boulder.

“It’ll be cool to come across that hill every morning and see a herd of bison instead of cattle,” said McKerrow, whose daughter attends CU. “It ties in so well with the Buffaloes at the university.”

Karakehian said open space officials have identified some areas for the herd, but they have not picked out a specific location.

“The reintroduction of bison has been a long-term vision for many in our community,” Karakehian said. “It seems to be a no-brainer.”

The plan won’t be without some complications, however.

Mike Patton, the city’s open space director, said he would have to study liability and safety issues and ask if a current lessee is interested in managing the herd. The plan would also restrict other uses on the open space land.

“There are lots of people who would be excited about the proposal,” Patton said. “But there’s a tipping point (on the space used). If the city closed 400 acres, that may be less appealing to you than something smaller.”

If the public supports the idea and the approval process goes smoothly, he said, bison could be on city land within 12 to 18 months.

While Turner will donate the $20,000 worth of bison (three bulls and 17 cows), he said it will be up to the city and community members to raise the funds for fencing and ongoing operations.

Karakehian did not envision that as a large hurdle, but he assured that “there will be significant public input after we determine the feasibility.”

Throughout Friday, the vast majority of commenters on the Camera’s website and social media channels were supportive of the idea.

Karen Hollweg, a board member of the Friends of Boulder Open Space, said she would need more information before forming her views on the proposal.

“Just as with most decisions in wildlife and habitat, there are a whole range of questions that need to be asked, such as the habitat size the animal needs and the condition of the habitat,” she said. “But it sounds like an interesting idea worth looking at.”

Turner is perhaps most famous for his cable television investments and making a $1 billion gift to support United Nations causes.

The Atlanta resident has some connections with Colorado and has called the Denver metro area a “second home.” He owns a ranch along the Colorado border near Raton, N.M., and spent some time in Boulder previously when the son of Jane Fonda, his former wife, attended CU.

Turner was also in town Friday to accept the Boulder-based Prairie Dog Coalition’s “Prairie Dog Protector of the Year” award for his work to bring back native wildlife populations on his land.

Turner, the second-largest landowner in North America, estimates that about 250,000 prairie dogs live on his 2 million acres of property. He also owns 55,000 buffalo and says that creating a market for bison meat has been a key to helping them thrive.

“You either eat them or they’re gone,” he said.

Then his eyes lit up with an idea to help another species.

“If we could just eat prairie dogs — there would be millions of them.”

Contact Camera Deputy City Editor Ryan Huff at 303-473-1362 or huffr@dailycamera.com.