At one point—prior to European colonization and the devastation it wrought—bison were the widest-ranging large mammal in North America, numbering between 30 million and 60 million. But by 1889, only 512 plains bison remained after the ravages of westward expansion, market demand, and a deliberate effort by the US Government to eliminate the species to subdue the Native people that relied so heavily upon them.
In response to their near extermination, conservationists—including Indigenous people—successfully brought the plains bison back from the brink of extinction to a population of approximately 45,000 in Tribal and conservation herds. Of those, 20,000 are managed in the public interest by governments and environmental organizations, and an estimated 25,000 are managed by Native Nations.
Native Nations seeking to restore bison to their lands remain the cornerstone of the species’ recovery. Since 2014, WWF has partnered with Native Nations throughout the Northern Great Plains in support of their efforts to conserve and restore grassland ecosystems within their communities and stands behind local visions and strategies that aim to bolster ecological, economic, and community benefits. Our goal is to support bison restoration efforts that serve the expressed values, needs, and aspirations of the Native Nations with whom we work, which include the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, Fort Belknap Indian Community, and the Sicangu Lakota Nation.
Moving forward, WWF will continue to follow the lead of Native Nations to identify opportunities and create places where bison can thrive in large herds—numbering over 1,000 bison—on vast landscapes in the Northern Great Plains.
