The Conservation of the North American Bison

• How would the reintroduction of the North American Bison benefit central Nebraska ecologically, agriculturally, and economically?

The North American Bison is an animal that has long been affected by westward expansion and development. This has caused the bison to almost become completely extinct. Bison were originally roaming through more than 7 states: covering the majority of the Great Plains. Their possible extinction has lead to the rehabilitation of the species through conservations and reserves and even livestock ranching. Therefore, I am suggesting a plan to reserve a plot of land for the roaming of this species, so they can both grow effectively and naturally. This land can later be set aside and made into agricultural fields after a set amount of years.

Reintroducing bison back into Nebraska can have many positive benefits. One benefit of the reintroduction of bison into Nebraska would be a beneficial ecological affect they would have on the soil. When bison roam, they naturally aerate the soil with their hooves which in turn allows more vegetation to grow, disperse native seeds, and improves the natural ecosystem overall. The previously stated benefits the bison wold provide ecologically also would help Nebraska agriculturally. The aeration of the soil would help farmer’s crops grow stronger and healthier. Another reason bison are beneficial to agriculture is through their feces as their feces act as a natural fertilizer for crops. Bison are also a benefit to Nebraska economically as the selling of bison meat is a profitable market through bison ranching. The average price per pound of bison meat is about $13.50, while the average price of beef is $6.25. The costly price of the bison meat is justified by the beneficial health benefits it has over beef. Bison meat is leaner and has a higher protein content than regular beef cattle meat. Overall, the reintroduction of the North American Bison would have positive effects on central Nebraska’s ecosystem, agriculture, and economy.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium's mission is to educate, engage, and inspire people to serve as lifelong stewards for animals, their habitats and their conservation. Their mission is broken down into seven core strategies that our zoo staff and volunteers are dedicated to upholding. These core strategies or values have been the infrastructure of the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium for more than 100 years. The core strategies set standards for all zoo staff and volunteers to abide by and strive towards. 

The core strategy that I am especially proud to demonstrate is, “Engaged staff and organizational culture that is laser focused on mission.” A mission I am laser focused on is conserving the North American Bison species. The main reason of my dedication to helping conserve North American Bison is because they have been close to extinction several times due to western development in the United States. Creating an opportunity for the bison to be able to relocate back into Nebraska can have amazing affects on Nebraska ecologically, agriculturally, and economically.

The work that is being done by the Wolakota Buffalo Range in Mission, South Dakota connects to my research as they are creating cultural, ecological, and economical opportunities for their community through the regeneration of native bison. They are creating the largest native-owned and managed bison herd on 28,000 acres of Rosebud Sioux tribal land. Their work has created many positive benefits for their community including environmental generation through the control of carbon emissions, strengthen food sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and economic opportunities.

My research project is similar as it demonstrates the desire for the rehabilitation and conservation of the North American Bison back into the Midwest. This organization provides economic, ecological, and agricultural benefits to their community, which in turn helps both the bison and humans of the area. Overall, the conservation efforts to rehabilitate the North American Bison back into the Midwest is being addressed by this organization and others.

In Nebraska, there are 6 main bison conservation sites and bison reserves including:

• Fort Robinson State Park in Crawford, NE
• Niobrara Valley Preserve in Niobrara, NE
• Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Reserve in Niobrara, NE
• Ponca Tribe: Buffalo Program in Verdel, NE
• Crane Trust in Wood River, NE
• Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland, NE

All of these conservation sites and nature reserves are promoting ecological biodiversity through the introduction of bison. They are helping maintain a positive relationship between both the bison and their natural surroundings. These nature reserves and conservation sites are creating a space for bison to be reintroduced back into Nebraska’s natural ecosystem. This reintroduction allows both Nebraska’s ecosystem and the bison to benefit in many ways. One way they both benefit is demonstrated through the bison’s foraging behavior. While the bison forage, they aerate the soil with their hooves. Aeration is process of penetrating the soil to create holes for gas exchange between the soil and the atmosphere. Aeration helps with plant growth, scatter native plant seeds, and helps maintain a positive and healthy ecosystem.

In Nebraska, there are 9 bison ranches including:

• Nebraska Bison Ranch in Adams, NE
• Straight Arrow Bison in Broken Bow, NE
• Hutchinson Buffalo Ranch in Rose, NE
• Deer Creek Ranch in Gordon, NE
• Fawn Lake Ranch in Gordon, NE
• McGinely Ranch in Keith County, NE
• Spike Box Ranch in Mullen, NE
• Blue Creek Ranch in Oshkosh, NE
• McMurtrey Ranch in Cody, NE

While bison ranching isn’t seen as the normal path for conservation, it has many benefits to both bison and Nebraska’s economy. Bison ranching promotes the health and wellness of bison through sustainable raising and harvesting. This sustainable cycle promotes healthy populations of bison to grow and possibly be reintroduced back into the wild. Having a healthy, surplus population of bison would allow for both reserves to reintroduce them back into the wild and for ranchers to keep growing a healthy herd for future generations.

Bison are a critical part of Nebraska’s economy as the bison ranching industry has boomed within the past 4 decades primarily due to one man, Ted Turner. Ted Turner is a media mogul who’s passion for bison has made him become the biggest bison rancher in all of America. He owns close to 1.9 million acres of land where he raises both bison and cattle on. Turner has ranches all over the Midwest, but he has 6 in the state of Nebraska. (They are the last 6 listed above). He has brought a booming economy into Nebraska based on bison, which exposes other ranchers in Nebraska to the opportunity’s of bison ranching. Bison ranching is beneficial to both Nebraska’s economy and to the conservation efforts of bison.

The short grass prairie of eastern Nebraska consists of sandy and silty beds of soil. The Sandhills of central Nebraska consist of large, bands of clay and sand that take up about 12% of the state. Mixed grass-prairies of Nebraska consist of many different types of grasses that range in a wide variety of sizes. The size of the mixed grass depends on the environment they are located in as the western, dryer areas of Nebraska favor shorter grasses, while the eastern areas favor taller grasses due to more rainfall. The tall grass prairie of Nebraska can be found along the eastern region. This region favors tall grasses due to heavier rainfall, which leads to the soil becoming rich in nutrients. Some of the tall grass species can reach to heights over 6 feet.

I plan on promoting the importance of bison reintroduction back into Nebraska through educational activities and presentations. Getting all ages involved in the education of North American Bison can lead to inspiring them to want bison to be in their own state. According to both of my analysis maps the perfect place for bison to be located in Nebraska would be in the Sandhills located at either Nebraska National Forest or Samuel R McKlevie National Forest. 

The promotion of bison reintroduction back into Nebraska can help Nebraska economically, agriculturally, and environmentally. Bison would help Nebraska’s economy through tourism and the harvesting of their meat. The Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Reserve in Valentine, Nebraska is contributing to Nebraska’s economy through ecotourism with their bison herd as they reported approximately 40 million people each year visit the bison, which costs $1 to see. This helps Nebraska’s economy through ecotourism and it brings more visitors to the Sandhills which is a less visited part of the state. Bison meat also helps the economy as the price of bison meat compared to beef is “about $13.50 compared with $6.25 (Consumer Reports Magazine)”. The more bison meat sold in comparison to beef would help the economy as the prices are higher and the health benefits of bison meat (32 calories less than beef) would be a great incentive to eat at local restaurants. Bison would also help agriculturally and ecologically by aerating the soil while they are foraging “which aids in plant growth, and disperse native seeds, helping maintain a healthy and balanced ecosystem (Picardi).” This promotes a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem and aerated soil for farming and agricultural use. Bison reintroduction in Nebraska has many benefits, so lets bring them back.

• Photo Credit: James, Terri. American Bison on the Prairie . Morrison, Oklahoma, 18 Feb. 2021. 
• Picardi, Phyllis. "Bison." Web. 20 Apr. 2021.
• "Bison vs. Beef Meat - Consumer Reports Magazine." Bison vs. Beef Meat - Consumer Reports Magazine. Web. 20 Apr. 2021.