Winter has arrived full force in Yellowstone. Snow piles on the landscape, blanketing sagebrush, meadow, and forest. Most of Yellowstone’s wildlife slumbers in the frozen landscape, waiting for spring. But the buffalo—expert survivors—endure the harsh conditions of a Yellowstone winter. They follow instinct and herd memory passed down over thousands of generations to navigate the frozen land and find the forage they need to survive. These cold winter months are when this spring’s calves learn what it takes to carry on the wild spirit of the Yellowstone Herds.

BFC headquarters is buzzing with winter activities. Winter gear is maintained, snow is shoveled, new volunteers learn the topography, and meals are shared. Our volunteers and staff are fortunate to live in a beautiful place like the Yellowstone ecosystem. Here we can connect with the abundant beauty of nature and be inspired by it. It is an honor to do this work and stand with the buffalo. Our grassroots community is strengthened with every new person who brings their skills and passion to volunteer for BFC—we are currently accepting volunteers through the end of May! If you would like to volunteer with us or have any questions, please contact us. If you can’t volunteer, please share our volunteer page with your friends, family, and community! Learn more about volunteering at BFC basecamp here.

In the field, BFC patrols keep a diligent watch on the boundaries of Yellowstone. We see grazing moose and loping coyotes, we hear the call of a raven overhead, and we feel the smooth glide of our skis on the snow. The ancestral migration of the last wild buffalo will begin soon. But for now, the herds remain safe in Yellowstone’s interior.

We maintain our daily presence in the field to bear witness to Yellowstone National Park’s mismanagement of our national mammal. In BFC’s 25th year in this watchdog role, we’ve seen the detrimental effects of the no tolerance policy for wild buffalo in Montana— an unscientific government subjugation of a native species to satisfy livestock interests. The trapping for slaughter and interference with traditional migration patterns threatens the last wild and migratory herds of buffalo on the planet. This must be stopped.

BFC, Western Watersheds Project and Friends of Animals have fought in the courts for endangered species listing for the Yellowstone herds since 2014. To support endangered species protection, BFC is seeking candidates and accepting proposals to produce an analysis of the migratory species’ ability to self-sustain a wild bison population with distinct breeding herds in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Learn more here. The threats analysis is a critical review of adverse factors operating on the distinct population of Yellowstone bison, and a forecast on the ability of the migratory species to naturally adapt in the wild as a viable, self-sustaining population. Please share, post, and email this message to anyone you know who would be interested in performing this key study. Addition proposal details will be provided to qualified candidates. Queries can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BFC’s outreach team travelled to Montana State University to recruit volunteers and to spread the word to save the herds! Our famous buffaloon attracted students and faculty from all over the university to learn about the State of Montana’s shameful treatment of the Yellowstone buffalo. Outreach events are one of the best tools to create change on a state, national, and local level. We couldn’t do this advocacy work without our wonderful community of buffalo supporters who donate to advance BFC’s mission and protect wild buffalo. We are so grateful for your steadfast support!