Bison Welfare and Plains Restoration

American bison were reduced from 60 million to fewer than 1,000 by the late 1800s; current restoration programs are rebuilding populations with growing attention to animal welfare and ecological function.

Key Facts

Bison once numbered an estimated 30 to 60 million across North American plains
Commercial hunting reduced the population to fewer than 1,000 by 1889
Today approximately 500,000 bison exist in North America, mostly in private commercial herds
Yellowstone National Park holds the largest genetically pure free-roaming bison herd of about 5,000
Bison are keystone species whose grazing patterns create habitat for over 100 other species

Welfare Considerations

Commercial bison herds face welfare concerns similar to cattle operations including crowded feedlots, long-distance transport, and stress-inducing handling. Free-roaming bison in national parks face winter starvation and culling operations when populations exceed political tolerance. The greatest welfare gains come from large-scale prairie restoration projects where bison can fulfill their ecological role in natural social groups, experiencing the full complexity of behaviors their evolution shaped them for.

What You Can Do

Support American Prairie Reserve and similar bison restoration initiatives
Choose bison products from farms committed to extensive, low-stress management
Advocate for expanded national park boundaries to accommodate bison movement
Visit Yellowstone to witness wild bison and support national park funding