American bison are iconic North American megafauna whose welfare in zoo settings requires large open spaces, herd social structures, and appropriate grazing opportunities to meet their grassland-adapted biology.
Bison welfare in zoo settings requires careful attention to social structure and space. As herd animals, bison should be maintained in groups that reflect natural social composition — mixed herds with females, calves, and managed male access provide better welfare outcomes than all-male or solitary housing. The challenge of managing large, powerful animals with high reactivity to human presence means facilities must be designed to minimize forced close contact. Low-stress handling facilities that use behavioral principles rather than force and physical restraint dramatically reduce acute welfare harm during necessary veterinary and management procedures. Grazing behavior is central to bison welfare — enclosures with natural grass foraging rather than exclusively hay-based feeding support longer behavioral engagement with the environment. Bison in zoo settings serve as important ambassadors for grassland ecosystem conservation and the ongoing recovery of wild bison populations through tribal and national park management programs.