Wildlife Café

Conservation Conversations

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Bringing bison back

Bison are making an exciting comeback and returning in greater numbers to the Great Plains of North America. Plains bison—commonly called buffalo—hold tremendous cultural and spiritual significance and are considered relatives among many of North America’s Indigenous people. In this episode of World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Café series, Alexander Nicolas speaks with Dennis Jorgensen and Noelle Guernsey about why restoring bison is crucial for ecosystems and Native people; and how communities, WWF, and many others have been helping to ensure the remarkable return of these animals to the grasslands of North America’s Great Plains.

About Dennis Jorgensen

Dennis manages WWF’s bison restoration initiative in the Northern Great Plains. In 2013, Dennis was elected Vice-Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) North American Bison Specialist Group and is currently participating in the IUCN Red-List assessment of the status of North American Bison. Dennis Jorgensen has worked for World Wildlife Fund as a Program Officer in the Northern Great Plains since 2007. Learn more about Dennis.

About Noelle Guernsey

Noelle is a conservationist and ecologist who is guided by an appreciation of the natural world, native wildlife assemblages, and healthy ecosystems that support local communities as they envision. At WWF, she works on efforts to restore bison and black-footed ferrets. Prior to joining WWF in 2019, she was the Program Manager for the Prairie Dog Coalition working to conserve and restore the prairie dog ecosystem, including with partners in the Northern Great Plains. Learn more about Noelle.

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