Yellowstone bison make remarkable recovery after near extinction
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Jessica Bowron, acting director of the National Park Service, described the recovery of wild bison in Yellowstone National Park as an “incredible conservation story.” A little over a century ago, bison populations in Yellowstone were critically low, but today thousands roam the park.
Bowron explained that rebuilding the bison population across the Great Plains required decades of scientific work and collaboration between the Park Service and its partners. Tribal, state, local, and federal agencies.
The park now participates in the Bison Conservation Transfer Program, relocating bison to tribes across the country. Since 2019, Yellowstone has transferred over 600 bison to 29 tribes in 13 states, with more than 200 transferred in 2026 alone. Each tribe manages its herd independently, aligning with its own conservation priorities. While the initial goal was to prevent extinction, Yellowstone now focuses on managing its thriving bison herd.
The park’s success demonstrates that conservation is an ongoing process, evolving as species recover and requiring continued cooperation with surrounding communities and agencies, as bison frequently move beyond park boundaries.
