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The resurgence of bison herds in Yellowstone National Park is bringing about a remarkable ecological transformation, reestablishing long-lost natural processes and fundamentally altering the terrain. According to a study published in *Science* in August, the movements of approximately 5,000 bison across the park’s extensive grasslands are reviving ancient environmental patterns. This large-scale migration is significantly influencing the ecosystem from the soil upward.
Scientists studying Yellowstone’s bison are gaining valuable understanding of how large herbivores shape their habitats. Through their behaviors—such as grazing, trampling, and fertilizing—these animals generate a diverse array of habitats that support a broad spectrum of plant and animal species, ranging from insects to top predators. Descended from the last wild herd remaining in the United States, the bison travel nearly 1,000 miles annually along a 50-mile corridor, continuously creating a dynamic landscape of both grazed and ungrazed areas.
Research led by ecologist Bill Hamilton from Washington and Lee University has compared vegetation and soil properties between areas heavily grazed by bison and those fenced off from them. The findings revealed that, despite intense grazing activity, plants in grazed zones grow as well as in undisturbed plots and contain 150% more protein. “It truly is a reawakening of what had been there in the past,” Hamilton said, encouraging reflection on the extent to which landscapes have diverged from their original conditions. He further remarked that Yellowstone’s grasslands are “functioning better than in their absence,” providing “a glimpse of what was lost” following the near eradication of bison in the 19th century. This ecological comeback is the result of decades of focused conservation efforts, habitat protection, and coordinated multi-agency management aimed at balancing restoration goals with disease control and agricultural interests.
Currently, the bison population in Yellowstone fluctuates between 2,400 and 5,500 individuals. Decision-makers are exploring opportunities to expand the animals’ range, with support from tribal trusts. The objective is to enhance the herds’ genetic diversity by allowing different groups to intermix and to promote freer movement across a broader, interconnected landscape beyond the park’s legal boundaries. Creating such wildlife corridors would help reconnect fragmented habitats, lower risks of inbreeding, and maintain the health and adaptability of bison populations. Nevertheless, challenges persist—political boundaries, concerns about disease spread, and conflicts with human activities restrict the potential for large-scale rewilding even as the ecological advantages of natural grazing become increasingly evident
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