Tribes Restore Bison to Historic Lands

Why this is here: Before European colonization, an estimated 30 to 60 million bison roamed North America, a number drastically reduced to just 500 by the late 19th century.

Indigenous tribes in the United States are actively working to restore bison populations to their historical territories. For centuries, bison shaped life on the Great Plains, providing food and cultural significance to many tribes before European expansion. Despite decades of being excluded from conservation efforts, tribal organizations now manage over 20,000 bison across roughly 130,000 square kilometers.

The Intertribal Buffalo Council, representing 86 tribes, leads this work, expanding herds on reservations like Wind River, which increased its bison from ten in 2016 to twenty-eight. The Smithsonian Institution supports these efforts with exhibits and research, including studying historical DNA to understand genetic diversity lost during the 19th-century slaughter that reduced the population to around 500 animals.

However, restoring bison faces challenges. Vast areas of prairie have been converted to agriculture, leaving only about 4% of the original grasslands.

Legal restrictions also require fencing, hindering the bison’s natural range. Despite these obstacles, tribes and scientists continue to rebuild herds on lands once filled with bones and empty fields.