American bison recovered from near-extinction through conservation efforts, but fully wild populations remain limited and face management challenges.
Bison recovery is a conservation success story, but genuine wildness remains elusive. Most bison live in managed, fenced ranch conditions rather than wide-ranging wild herds. Disease management programs like brucellosis hazing and culling cause welfare harm. Truly wild bison populations are limited to Yellowstone, where seasonal hazing causes significant stress.