
Elk and bison graze on snowy ground at National Elk Refuge in Wyoming. Photo Credit: Elk and bison at National Elk Refuge, Gannon Castle/USFWS, Public Domain, https://www.fws.gov/media/elk-and-bison-national-elk-refuge
AnimalsThe Recovery of an Iconic Bison Is Underway
The United States is joining forces with Canada and Mexico to strengthen cooperation and coordination for preserving the bison across North America, focusing notably on the cultural and historical connection between the iconic animal and Indigenous peoples.
“While the overall recovery of bison over the last 130 years is a conservation success story, significant work remains to ensure that bison will remain a viable species,” states Secretary Deb Haaland. “Our collaborative efforts with Canada and Mexico are an important step forward as we work to restore this majestic species and facilitate the return of bison to Tribally owned and ancestral lands.”
Through the Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management, the three countries vow to pursue bison conservation, restore ecological processes, and support traditional human use of natural resources in keeping with the cultural and spiritual connection Indigenous peoples have with the animals. Established in 1996, the Trilateral Committee allows the alignment of the three countries’ efforts in safeguarding North America’s wildlife and ecosystems. Once estimated between 60 and 80 million, there are only around 1,000 bison today. The U.S. Interior Department announced a $25 million investment to empower the Department’s Bureaus and partners to use the best available science and Indigenous knowledge to help restore bison across the United States.