American bison were nearly driven to extinction in the 19th century. Their ongoing recovery is a conservation success story with important welfare dimensions.
Bison welfare in recovery programmes depends on the degree to which reintroduced animals can express natural behaviour. Truly wild herds in large unfenced landscapes — like Yellowstone — live lives close to natural and experience welfare primarily shaped by predation, harsh winters, and disease. Fenced conservation herds are more welfare-controlled but also more constrained: animals cannot migrate, herd sizes are managed artificially, and veterinary interventions are more frequent. The welfare trade-off is real but justified for conservation purposes. Commercial bison herds raise additional welfare questions around intensive management practices. Supporting genuinely wild bison recovery on large landscapes is the highest-welfare outcome for this species.