July is National Bison Month, celebrating an American animal icon that is a conservation success story. The bison’s tale reveals how an endangered and disappearing species can rebound from the brink of extinction.

Also commonly known as buffalo, bison are North America’s largest land animals, as well as the official mammal of the United States. Bison are considered a keystone species, profoundly influencing their ecosystems, including soil, plants, and other animals. These animals once grazed the plains of most of the United States in the millions. However, their population dwindled to the verge of extinction at the turn of the 20th century due to the destructive impact of hunting and habitat loss.

In 1905, American zoologist William Hornaday teamed with President Theodore Roosevelt and others to form the American Bison Society to help save bison from extinction. This was the first national effort to save an American wildlife species. This group brought together conservationists, politicians, and ranchers to increase bison conservation efforts. National parks, such as Yellowstone National Park, took measures to protect their remaining bison. Zoos also played a major role in restoring the number of bison. Thanks to these efforts, the bison has slowly been reintroduced to the wild. Approximately 500,000 now reside in zoos, preserves and protected parklands, and around 30,000 live on public lands including environmental and government preserves. However, the species is still listed as “near threatened” and “ecologically extinct” – which means they no longer play their critical roles in shaping prairie biodiversity.

The bison’s reintroduction is crucial for shaping and managing prairie ecosystems. The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ (AZA) Bison Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) program, which merges the resources of AZA facilities across North America with external partners, including Indigenous groups, to recover bison and restore its native North American prairie habitat. Four bison, one male and three females, arrived at the Zoo’s International Conservation Center last year. These animals represent the purest bison stock in North America and came to the Zoo through a partnership with American Prairie, a prairie-based nature reserve in Central Montana.

The goal is to breed the Conservation Center bison and introduce the animals to indigenous territories across the United States and provide training opportunities for animal care managers across zoological institutions and our Native American partners. Our local population will contribute to the preservation of their wild counterparts and help tell the bison’s story of hope and survival well into the future! Sign up for a Conservation Center Wagon Tour for a chance to see the bison, along with our other animal residents in Somerset.