Species Recovery, American Bison

1902 CENorth America

In the 1500s, an estimated 30 to 60 million American Bison dominated the North American landscape from the Appalachians to the Rockies, from the Gulf Coast to Alaska. Habitat loss and mass destruction of the species reduced the population to only a few hundred by 1902. “Most were held captive in zoos or in private ranches. Only 23 survived in the wild, the buffalo were facing extinction. In response to a public outcry, the U.S congress released some captive Bison into Yellowstone National Park to rebuild a wild herd.”  Today, approximately 500,000 bison live across North America. However, less than 5,000 are unfenced and disease-free. “Wild bison are making a small comeback in a few scattered places, but they need more room to roam.”

“The Buffalo Make a Comeback,” americanbison.org < http://www.americanbison.org/articles/the-buffalo-make-a-comeback.html >; Defenders of Wildlife http://www.defenders.org/bison/basic-facts

Courtesy of the Agricultural Research Service