The plains bison is the largest land mammal in North America with some adult bulls weighing in excess of 2,000 pounds. Tens of millions of these iconic animals once roamed across much of North America.

2024年11月26日 · Two centuries ago, bison dominated North America, with tens of millions roaming the Great Plains, from Mexico all the way up to Canada. Some referred to these vast herds as “Rolling Thunder” because of the sound of their hooves pounding the earth.

Bison play an enormous role in shaping the ecology of the Northern Great Plains, impacting everything from plants to pronghorn. Explore their influence and what WWF, tribal partners, and national parks are doing to help protect this vital species.

Since 2005, WWF has been committed to returning plains bison to the Northern Great Plains. Today, this work is led through partnerships with the region’s Native Nations for whom these grasslands have been home for thousands of years.

Bison are the largest native grazers of America’s Northern Great Plains. Take a look at why bison are unique to our landscape and what WWF is doing to help.

The Great Plains has historically been shaped by glacial activity, frigid winters, high winds, blistering summers and the activities of migrations of millions of bison and other wildlife kicking up dust and disturbing grass.

Despite roaming vast distances in the Northern Great Plains, bison do not move south as the weather grows cold and inhospitable, though they may move to lower elevations where snow is not so deep. Temperatures plummet well below zero, bitter winds whip across the landscape, and bison still remain.

2023年10月2日 · It is difficult to overstate the immense ecological and cultural value of the plains bison to the lifeways and lands of Native Nations throughout the Northern Great Plains. In fact, many Plains People, including the Lakota, consider the bison their relatives.

Bison are making an exciting comeback and returning in greater numbers to the Great Plains of North America. Plains bison—commonly called buffalo—hold tremendous cultural and spiritual significance and are considered relatives among many of North America’s Indigenous people.

2019年10月11日 · WWF is now working to establish five bison herds of at least 1,000 individuals each in the Northern Great Plains to increase the genetic health of this species.