On the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, the unique and distinct population of Yellowstone bison is under review for listing as a threatened or endangered species. The long-awaited species status review is a result of the steadfast advocacy of Buffalo Field Campaign, Western Watersheds Project, our attorneys at Friends of Animals, and you, our supporters across the country.

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Recently, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service sent a letter to interested parties seeking the latest science on factors jeopardizing Yellowstone’s bison herds including, but not limited to:

  • Historical and current distribution of the Yellowstone bison, population sizes, population trends, and any updates to the Yellowstone bison’s predicted range;
  • Genetics;
  • The effects of severe weather occurrences on Yellowstone bison and its habitat;
  • The effects of climate change on Yellowstone bison and its habitat;
  • Disease and predation;
  • The effects of existing regulatory mechanisms;
  • Any updates to laws, regulations, policies, or management plans that may apply to the population; and
  • Ongoing or planned conservation efforts for the population and its habitat.

You can help by collecting and sending the latest science to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is asking for data, maps, methods used to gather and analyze data, publications, reports, or letters from knowledgeable sources, and spatial data (location-specific information). Read the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s interested party letter here (PDF 123kb).

Also, the Missoulian published reporter Brett French’s article asking the question: Is our National Mammal in Yellowstone still endangered? You can read the Curious Case of Bison featuring quotes from Buffalo Field Campaign and Western Watersheds Project here (PDF 3.6MB).

You can also support protection and recovery for Yellowstone bison in the wild by signing our petition, Support Endangered Species Act Protection for Yellowstone’s Wild Bison Herds, and inviting your friends and family to help us exceed our goal of 25,000 people strong. Thank you for honoring, protecting, and restoring Yellowstone bison in the wild.

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