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The plains bison ( Bison bison bison) is one of two subspecies/ of the American bison, the other being the wood bison ( B. b. athabascae). A natural population of plains bison survives in Yellowstone National Park (the Yellowstone Park bison herd consisting of an estimated 4,800 bison), while multiple smaller herds of bison have been reintroduced in many ranges within the midwestern and western United States (including Alaska, but not Hawaii) as well as southern portions of the Canadian Prairies.
Park officials transferred plains bison from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge to Theodore Roosevelt National Park's South Unit in 1956 and its North Unit in 1962 for population increase. In 1969, plains bison from Elk Island National Park were released into Prince Albert National Park in Saskatchewan, creating the Sturgeon River bison herd. At a population around 300 animals, they form a free herd able to wander where they please. The bison are spread throughout Prince Albert National Park's southwestern corner, as well as some crown and private land in the area. In 2006, plains bison from Elk Island National Park in Alberta were released into Saskatchewan's Grasslands National Park. This marks the first time they have wandered the shortgrass prairies of Canada since their near extinction at the turn of the 20th century. According to the national agency Parks Canada, the entire breeding population of these wild and "semiwild" bison is descended from just eight individuals that survived the period of near extinction, due to overhunting and tuberculosis infecting the herd.Parks Canada pamphlet titled Parks Canada and Plains Bison, no date, no stated author, available online
A herd of about 650 of these animals lives in, and can be seen at, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma. The herd was started in 1907 with stock from the New York Zoological Park, now known as the Bronx Zoo and located in the Bronx Park. Fifteen animals were shipped to Oklahoma, where bison had already become extinct due to excessive hunting and Overexploitation by non-native commercial buffalo hunters from 1874 to 1878. Some of these specimens have been released in other areas of the United States, such as Paynes Prairie in Florida.)]]Only one southern plains bison herd was established in Texas. A remnant of the last of this relict herd had been saved in 1876. "Molly" Goodnight had encouraged her rancher husband, Charles Goodnight, to save some of the last bison which were taking refuge in the Texas Panhandle. By saving these few plains bison, she was able to establish a buffalo herd near the Palo Duro Canyon. This herd peaked at 250 in 1933. John Cornyn, The Winkler Post, Molly Goodnight Bison of this herd were introduced into the Yellowstone National Park in 1902 and into the larger zoos and ranches throughout the nation. A herd of around 80 of these animals lives in the Caprock Canyons State Park near Quitaque, Texas, located about 50 miles northeast of Plainview, Texas.
Ted Turner owned America's largest secured bison herd in Cimarron, New Mexico's Vermejo Reserve. Boy Scouts of America own a private bison herd in Cimarron's Philmont Scout Ranch.
In 2013, bison were reintroduced to Fort Belknap Indian Reservation from Yellowstone National Park.
In 2019, a herd was established in Pleistocene Park in Northern Siberia.
A herd of plains bison were successfully reintroduced to Banff National Park in Alberta in early 2017. The bison were kept under observation in an enclosed pasture of the park until the summer of 2018, after which they have been allowed to roam free. Observation is to be continued until 2022 according to Parks Canada.
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