Once numbering in the tens of millions before being hunted to near extinction, the American plains bison is making a promising recovery.
In Minnesota, this recovery is supported by a long-standing partnership between the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Zoological Garden (MZG), which actively manage Minnesotaâs Bison Conservation Herd. This year, Olmsted County joined the partnership by establishing a bison population at the county parkâs Zollman Zoo.
Currently, the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd includes about 130 bison at four different locations: Blue Mounds State Park, Minneopa State Park, the Minnesota Zoo and Zollman Zoo. The partnershipâs long-term goal is a conservation herd numbering 500 bison to ensure the herdâs long-term sustainability in Minnesota.