The recent transfer of 116 bison from Yellowstone National Park to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana is part of an effort to restore bison to Native American lands. Conducted during the week of February 5, this action is part of the Bison Conservation Transfer Program, marking the largest transfer of Yellowstone bison to American Indian Tribes to date.
This group, including 108 males, four females, and four calves, increases the number of bison reintroduced to tribal lands, with a total of 414 Yellowstone bison moved to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes at Fort Peck since 2019. These bison and their offspring have been distributed among 26 Tribes across 12 states in cooperation with the InterTribal Buffalo Council.
The transfer is not just about conservation, but also represents the reconnection of Native American tribes with the bison, an important part of their heritage and ecosystem, and addresses the historical decline of bison populations in North America.
The initiative is a collaboration between the National Park Service, the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the State of Montana, the InterTribal Buffalo Council, Yellowstone Forever, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition.
The Bison Conservation Transfer Program supports both the preservation of bison and acknowledges their significance to the cultural and environmental heritage of the American West.
