Before colonization, how many bison roamed the Great Plains?

Bison (or buffalo) are our national mammal. Historically, scientists estimate that before colonization, 30 million–60 million buffalo roamed the Great Plains, at the time outnumbering humans 10 to one. They were the widest-ranging large mammal in North America, central in the lives and traditions of many Native nations, and an umbrella species for many plants and animals sharing their habitat.

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 bison to subdue the Native people who relied so heavily upon them. In response to their tragic decline, conservationists and Indigenous peoples successfully brought the plains bison back from the brink of extinction.

WWF partners with Native communities seeking to restore bison to their lands. Our goal is to support bison restoration efforts that foster community benefits such as increased access to bison and ecological and economic sustainability.

Learn more about why buffalo restoration and food sovereignty are critical for Native Nations.