American bison are gradually recovering from near-extinction, but their welfare in managed populations raises questions about space, genetic diversity, and the balance between conservation and commercial interests.
Bison welfare in conservation herds is generally better than most farmed livestock situations — animals live in large social groups, express natural behaviors including wallowing, rutting, and grazing, and have access to relatively natural environments. The primary welfare concerns are the consequences of brucellosis management: bison that migrate out of Yellowstone are rounded up, tested, and if positive, sent to slaughter — a welfare cost imposed to protect commercial cattle interests rather than bison welfare. Small isolated herds with reduced genetic diversity face inbreeding depression. Translocation events for genetic management require handling and transport that is acutely stressful. The welfare trajectory improves as herds grow larger and territories expand — the American Prairie Reserve model, which aims to support the largest wild bison herd outside Yellowstone, represents a significant welfare improvement over small managed herds.