Once driven to the brink of extinction, American bison are finally getting the recognition and protection they deserve in Colorado. In a landmark move, Governor Jared Polis signed the “Protect Wild Bison” bill into law, officially designating bison as both livestock and wildlife in the state. This dual status opens the door for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to take an active role in conserving the species, which holds profound ecological and cultural significance.
“A bison treated as wildlife is a bison treated with the respect and care that it deserves,” said Michael Saul, director of Defenders of Wildlife’s Rockies & Plains program. “This achievement for our herds in Colorado honors our Indigenous communities and their relationship with this revered animal, and once again highlights Colorado’s steadfast commitment to the animals that call our landscapes home. Our national mammal is lucky to now have CPW in its corner.”
The legislation, passed by the Colorado legislature in April, empowers CPW to manage bison as a big game species. This not only aligns with conservation goals but also facilitates collaboration with tribal nations, the Bureau of Land Management, and neighboring states like Utah. Herds along the Colorado-Utah border, for instance, can now be jointly managed by CPW, Utah officials, the Ute Tribes, and federal agencies—marking a new era of regional cooperation.
Colorado is home to several key bison populations, including the Laramie Foothills herd at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, the Southern Plains Land Trust herd, and the federally managed herd at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. With this new designation, CPW can step in to address pressing issues like grassland stewardship and disease management—ensuring a more sustainable future for all herds, regardless of ownership.
The need for such action is rooted in the bison’s tragic past. Once numbering in the tens of millions, American plains bison were slaughtered to near extinction by the late 1800s, with fewer than 1,000 animals surviving. Today, they are considered ecologically extinct—present, but not playing their historic role in shaping grassland ecosystems. Initiatives like the Bison Conservation Transfer Program, co-founded by Defenders of Wildlife, are working to change that. By relocating genetically valuable Yellowstone bison to tribal lands across North America, these efforts aim to restore not just the species, but also a vital connection to Indigenous traditions and habitats.
Defenders of Wildlife, a key advocate, testified in support of the bill before the Colorado Senate Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee earlier this year, emphasizing the importance of bringing bison management in line with their historic and ecological importance.
With this new law, Colorado is not just protecting a species, it is helping to restore a legacy. By treating bison as both a natural resource and a cultural treasure, the state is setting a precedent for how to honor the past while building a more sustainable future.
