How Fifteen Bronx Zoo Bison Sparked a Prairie Comeback

How Fifteen Bronx Zoo Bison Sparked a Prairie Comeback

Drew Wood

Sat, January 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC

10 min read

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The post How Fifteen Bronx Zoo Bison Sparked a Prairie Comeback appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

• By the 1880s and 1890s, fewer than 1,000 bison remained in the wild, a stark warning about unchecked exploitation.

• Wallows create seasonal pools that trap rainwater, support amphibians and insects, and reshape prairie biodiversity.

• Despite common usage, the official label buffalo (Bison bison) clashes with biology, which reserves buffalo for other species.

• Read on to discover how a transfer of fifteen bison from the Bronx Zoo seeded conservation that grew into a 2,000-plus herd at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.

Oklahoma did not choose the American buffalo as its state mammal simply because it looked good on souvenirs and roadside signs. In 1972, state lawmakers chose the bison for this role because it tied together Native traditions, frontier history, and the natural systems of the Great Plains more than any other animal in the area. Long before statehood, vast herds shaped the land that later became Oklahoma and sustained many of the tribes who still live there. Legislators wanted a symbol that honored the land itself, as well as the people who depended on it for generations. Today, bison still roam protected prairies in Oklahoma, reminding residents that endurance, survival, and care for grasslands sit at the center of the state’s identity.

What’s In a Name?

Oklahoma’s resolution refers to the state mammal as the “buffalo (Bison bison),” keeping the familiar name used by most residents while also identifying the animal by its scientific classification. In strict biological terms, the name buffalo applies to animals such as the African Cape buffalo and the Asian water buffalo. In North America, however, the word has long been used as a nickname for the plains bison. So, the Oklahoma law chose to include both the animal’s colloquial name and its scientific name for clarity.

A Prairie Species with Deep Roots

Long before borders, flags, or highways, massive herds of American bison moved across the Great Plains, including the grasslands and mixed prairies that now fall within Oklahoma. Indigenous nations such as the Cheyenne, Pawnee, Kiowa, and Comanche relied on bison for far more than food. The animals provided hides for shelter and clothing, bones for tools, and materials used in everyday life. Bison also held an important place in stories, ceremonies, and spiritual teachings that explained the relationship between people and the land.

As these herds moved, grazed, and wallowed, they reshaped the prairie itself. Their constant motion helped prevent any single plant from taking over, creating a varied landscape of grasses and flowering plants. When lawmakers later searched for a state animal that truly belonged to Oklahoma, they focused on a species that had shaped the land in lasting and visible ways.

Collapse of the Great Herds

By the late nineteenth century, bison numbers across North America fell at a shocking pace. Commercial hunting, railroad expansion, and federal policies aimed at undermining tribal food sources all played a role. Herds that once numbered in the tens of millions were reduced to scattered groups. By the 1880s and 1890s, fewer than a thousand bison remained in the wild.

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In what is now Oklahoma, the last wild southern Plains bison disappeared during this period. The loss affected Native communities first and hardest, stripping away a central resource and cultural anchor. The near disappearance of the species also served as an early warning about the consequences of unchecked exploitation. The bison’s decline became one of the clearest examples of how quickly human activity could erase a species that once seemed endless.

Early Efforts to Save the Buffalo

The American bison survived because a small number of people recognized the value of this animal and acted before it was too late. Ranchers, conservationists, and zoological institutions began gathering surviving animals into private herds and protected areas. One of the most important moments for Oklahoma came in 1907, when the federal government transported fifteen bison from the Bronx Zoo in New York to the newly created Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

That small herd became the foundation for bison conservation in the southern Plains. Protected from hunting and given room to roam, the animals began to reproduce. Their presence also helped restore grazing patterns that benefited native grasses and other wildlife. The Wichita Mountains herd stood as proof that deliberate protection could reverse even severe ecological damage.

The Road to an Official State Mammal

When Oklahoma lawmakers considered state symbols in the early 1970s, the bison already held a strong place in public memory. Herds at the Wichita Mountains and other locations had become familiar sights, drawing visitors and serving as living reminders of the region’s past. In 1972, the legislature passed a concurrent resolution naming the “buffalo (Bison bison)” as the official state mammal.

The resolution emphasized that the species was native to Oklahoma and deeply important to many tribes whose histories shaped the state. Choosing the bison allowed lawmakers to recognize Indigenous heritage, frontier history, and the land itself in a single symbol. The decision also reflected growing public interest in conservation during that era, as Americans began to reconsider how natural resources were used and protected.

How States Use Animal Symbols

Across the United States, official animals are chosen to express shared identity and values rather than decoration alone. These symbols often highlight species that are native to a region or closely tied to its landscape, history, or economy. In many states, the selection process includes schools, civic groups, or student-led efforts, turning the decision into a public lesson in history, science, and government. Once adopted, the animal becomes a recognizable marker that appears in classrooms, tourism materials, and public conversations.

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State animal designations can also lead to practical outcomes. Official recognition tends to raise awareness and support for conservation programs, research, and habitat protection. For the species itself, this attention can encourage science-based management and long-term planning. For residents, the symbol reinforces pride in local wildlife and strengthens the connection between people and the ecosystems they depend on.

Meaning Behind the Choice

The bison was never meant to represent ranching alone or modern meat production. Instead, lawmakers pointed to the animal’s endurance and recovery as its most important traits. After being pushed close to extinction, bison survived through protection and care, making them a strong emblem for a state that had endured droughts, economic hardship, and social change.

Because bison once supported tribal economies and continue to be raised on Native lands and private ranches, the animal also serves as a link between past and present. It reflects continuity rather than nostalgia, showing how traditions can adapt while staying rooted in place. In this way, the bison stands for shared history rather than a single chapter of Oklahoma’s story.

Bison in Oklahoma Today

Modern Oklahoma still provides space for bison to live much as they once did. At the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, the herd has grown from the original fifteen animals to roughly 650. These bison roam freely, grazing and moving across the refuge in patterns that support native plants and wildlife. Managers carefully monitor herd size to protect the land from overuse.

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Farther north, the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Osage County hosts one of the largest bison herds in the country. Beginning with a group of donated animals in the 1990s, the herd has expanded to more than 2,000 bison. Visitors can observe the animals from designated roads while learning how grazing shapes tallgrass prairie systems that have nearly vanished elsewhere.

How Buffalo Shape the Prairie

Ecologists often describe bison as a keystone species because their actions influence many other forms of life. Their grazing habits create a patchwork of short and tall vegetation, which supports a wider range of insects, birds, and small mammals. Without bison, grasses can grow dense and uniform, reducing habitat diversity.

Bison also create shallow depressions when they roll in the dirt. These wallows collect rainwater and form small seasonal pools. Over time, these pools support amphibians, insects, and plants that require wet conditions. In this way, a single animal’s behavior can affect water flow, soil structure, and plant growth across large areas of prairie.

A Symbol Shared Across the Plains

Oklahoma is not alone in honoring the buffalo as a state symbol. Kansas and Wyoming have also named the American bison as a state animal, reflecting the species’ importance throughout the Great Plains. In 2016, the United States designated the American bison as the national mammal, recognizing its role in the country’s environmental and cultural history.

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For Oklahomans, this shared recognition places local herds within a broader national effort to protect and restore prairie ecosystems. It also reinforces the idea that conservation does not stop at state borders. The bison’s recovery depends on cooperation among tribes, states, federal agencies, and private landowners across the region.

Tribal Leadership and Living Culture

Many Native nations connected to Oklahoma are leading modern efforts to return bison to tribal lands. These programs focus on more than herd numbers. They emphasize education, community involvement, and the restoration of cultural relationships with the animal. For many tribes, caring for bison is an expression of sovereignty and responsibility rather than commerce alone.

Tribal herds support language programs, youth education, and traditional practices tied to the buffalo. By blending modern wildlife management with inherited knowledge, these efforts show how conservation and culture can move forward together. The presence of bison on tribal lands represents survival after displacement and a renewed connection to ancestral landscapes.

Conservation Challenges and Responsibilities

Although bison numbers are far higher than they were a century ago, the species still requires careful management. Maintaining genetic diversity remains a concern, since many herds descend from small founding groups. Agencies and conservation groups coordinate animal transfers between herds to reduce inbreeding and improve long-term health.

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Land management also matters. Bison need space to move, graze, and interact naturally with their environment. Visitors play a role as well. Following refuge rules, keeping distance from animals, and respecting closures help protect people and wildlife alike. The bison’s presence in Oklahoma depends on ongoing attention rather than past success alone.

An Enduring Legacy

Oklahoma chose the bison as its state animal because no other species so clearly connects the land, its first peoples, and its ongoing story. As herds continue to thrive on protected prairies, the meaning behind that choice grows clearer. The bison stands as a reminder that loss is not always final and that recovery is possible when care replaces neglect.

The post How Fifteen Bronx Zoo Bison Sparked a Prairie Comeback appeared first on A-Z Animals.

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