• Home
  • How We Work
  • Where We Work
  • News Room
  • About Us
  • My Nature Page

The Nature Conservancy in Africa - Conservation in Africa

The Nature Conservancy in Asia Pacific - Conservation in Asia-Pacific

The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean - Conservation in the Caribbean

The Nature Conservancy in Central America - Conservation in Central America

The Nature Conservancy in North America - Conservation in North America

The Nature Conservancy in the United States - Conservation in the United States

The Nature Conservancy in South America - Conservation in South America

Reintroduction of Bison to Iowa, landing page header

 

American Bison, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Reintroduction of Bison to Iowa, call to action button

The reintroduction of bison on the largest, contiguous native prairie in Iowa is a celebration of the progress that the Conservancy has made in Iowa, with your help. Please support this ongoing, important program.

Bison History
The bison population was decimated in the 1800s to almost extinction. However, a handful survived and have served as the basis for our repopulation to areas where the “buffalo roamed.” More history.

Current Bison Population
Most bison are in private ownership. Many reside in our public parks and conservation areas. Where are the bison?

The Nature Conservancy Herds
The Conservancy has a rich but relatively brief history with bison. The first herd of 18 bison was acquired in 1984 at the Samuel H. Ordway Memorial Prairie in South Dakota. The Conservancy manages almost 5,000 bison at their eight preserves. Conservancy bison preserves.

Grasslands Worldwide
Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve is a globally unique landscape. By maintaining and restoring areas in the Loess Hills, the Conservancy and partners are conserving the least protected habitat on Earth, with only 2 percent of native grasslands remaining. Learn more about other grasslands around the world.

Bison at Niobrara Valley Preserve, Nebraska

Bison at Broken Kettle Grasslands
At the end of October 2008, a small herd of bison will be reintroduced at Broken Kettle Grasslands in the globally significant Loess Hills, in western Iowa. These bison are part of the prairie restoration effort that has diversified that plant and animal communities in the stunningly beautiful landscape. Learn more about bison: Why now? Why bison?

Bison Quick Facts
Just the facts on these large, grass-eating mammals.

Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have the mind of a probing reporter? Read about Broken Kettle Grassland bison in a question and answer format. These are the ones we have fielded the most.

Herd Management
Bison are natural and important components to managing a native prairie – given their presence on the native prairie. Still, Broken Kettle Grasslands bison need some management to ensure the health and identification of our herd and the safety of our staff and neighbors. Learn about our management plans.

Herd Origin and Genetics
While the bison benefits the prairie, the Conservancy can benefit bison. We are engaged with Texas A&M, as they genetically test all of herds and bison using the best available science. The Broken Kettle Grassland herd comes originally from Wind Cave National Park, which is historically and genetically valuable as one of two closed breeding herds in North America that shows no evidence of cattle genes. Read more.

Bison Diary
See the bison arrival at Broken Kettle Grassland preserve and learn more about the herd, the genetics and the process to get the bison to Iowa. Scott Moats, Broken Kettle Grassland preserve and bison manager, provides a details on the herds process. Check back often to read new diary entries.

 

Images (top to bottom, left to right): East bison pasture, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Nebraska © 2000 Chris Helzer/TNC, American Bison (Bison bison) in the Badlands National Park, South Dakota © Mark Godfrey