Reintroduction of Bison to Iowa, Broken Kettle Grasslands header

 

American Bison and calf, Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska

Reintroduction of Bison to Iowa, call to action button

The reintroduction of bison on the largest, contiguous native prairie in Iowa is a celebration of the progress that the Conservancy has made in Iowa, with your help. Please support this ongoing, important program.

Bison History
The bison population was decimated in the 1800s to almost extinction. However, a handful survived and have served as the basis for our repopulation to areas where the “buffalo roamed.” More history.

Current Bison Population
Most bison are in private ownership. Many reside in our public parks and conservation areas. Where are the bison?

The Nature Conservancy Herds
The Conservancy has a rich but relatively brief history with bison. The first herd of 18 bison was acquired in 1984 at the Samuel H. Ordway Memorial Prairie in South Dakota. The Conservancy manages almost 5,000 bison at their eight preserves. Conservancy bison preserves.

Grasslands Worldwide
Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve is a globally unique landscape. By maintaining and restoring areas in the Loess Hills, the Conservancy and partners are conserving the least protected habitat on Earth, with only 2 percent of native grasslands remaining. Learn more about other grasslands around the world.

Bison at Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Oklahoma

More than 150 years ago, bison were a natural and integral part of the prairie ecosystem before Europeans settled the vast central tallgrass prairie. Bison grazing provides a “disturbance” which allows for a more diverse mix of prairie species and a diverse structure critical for the survival of the animals dependent on prairie habitat.

And now, bison are coming home to the globally rare Loess Hills landscape and the largest contiguous native prairie in the state.

At the end of October, Broken Kettle Grasslands will welcome a small herd from the Conservancy’s Lame Johnny Creek Ranch, in South Dakota. This herd originated from the Wind Cave National Park herd and is considered to be an unhybridized herd. In other words, there is no evidence of cattle introgression or cattle genes as determined by current DNA testing techniques. This starter herd, of about 30, will be a maternal grouping—bison that all know each other, have group dynamics figured out, and like to stick together.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, final preparations are underway for their arrival. Iowa and South Dakota staff are working through the final details of the transfer plan, along with our state veterinarians, to ensure a safe, stress-free trip for the animals. Final touches are being placed on our corral and high-tensile electric fence. Native prairie hay is ready to go into the trap pasture where the bison will be held for their first few days in Iowa. Woven wire fencing is secured around the trap pasture. Gates are double checked.

The excitement is building. It’s a celebration. Large-scale prairie restoration efforts are working in Iowa. The arrival of these big, native grass-eaters is an exciting step in our long term goals for Iowa’s largest remaining prairie.

Broken Kettle Grasslands
Broken Kettle Grasslands is located in the northern portion of the Loess Hills, which rise 200 feet above the Missouri River Valley, snaking in a narrow band of wrinkled bluffs that cover some 650,000 acres along the state’s western border. It is 25 minutes northwest of Sioux City, Iowa.

 

Images (top to bottom, left to right): Bison at Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Oklahoma © Harvey Payne, American Bison and calf (Bison bison) in the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska © Mark Godfrey