The United States in the early 1900s rounded up the last remaining wild American bison after commercial hunting reduced the species to only a few hundred animals; today, hundreds of thousands once again roam protected lands

American bison once numbered millions, shaping North American ecosystems and cultures. Commercial hunting in the 1800s caused a drastic population decline to near extinction. Conservationists and the government initiated early efforts to protect and restore bison herds. Today, hundreds of thousands of bison roam managed and wild herds across North America. This recovery stands as a significant wildlife conservation success story.