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Reintroduction of Bison to Iowa, current bison population 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.

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

There are:

 

  • More than 300,000 bison in North America, primarily
        in private herds
  • Fewer than 8,000 free ranging bison
  • 13,000 living in public parks and preserves
  • 8,000 on tribal lands
  • 275,000 in private ownership

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    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

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