Bison Cow

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Bison require a large connected habitats of grasslands. Today, most bison live in small, fenced in fragmented herds. Bison naturally want to roam freely over great areas of grasslands like the Great Plains once was. These fragmentations are caused by grasslands being converted to agricultural land, privately owned ranches and urban sprawl.

Today areas like Yellowstone allow bison this freedom they desire but one park is not enough. Other parks, reserves and Native American tribe lands have made great strides in improving and reestablishing grasslands for the bison to roam. Thankfully today bison populations have rebounded from past over hunting and are no longer a concern for extinction.

Taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, this female bison was grazing through the grassland. I was lucky enough to have her lift her head and stick out her tongue to get this fun shot. Taken in September, you can start to see her winter coat starting to fill in for the coming cold she will endure during a long winter season.

By bringing this print into your home, you aren't just owning a moment of nature's resilience, you are actively protecting it, with 5% of your purchase going directly to the National Wildlife Federation.