Bison restoration to native grasslands generates cascading ecosystem benefits that support the welfare of numerous other species through habitat creation and ecological processes.
Bison restoration creates welfare benefits that extend far beyond the individual bison themselves. By restoring their role as keystone grazers, bison recovery supports the conditions needed for prairie dog communities that in turn support black-footed ferret welfare and survival. The structural habitat diversity created by bison grazing supports grassland bird species that have declined dramatically with the absence of large grazers from the Great Plains. Each bison restored to functioning grassland is effectively providing welfare services to dozens of other species through their ecological role. This ecosystem-level welfare dimension adds further weight to the already strong case for continued bison restoration efforts.