The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and Yellowstone Forever have each raised $250,000 to help Yellowstone National Park expand its facilities for the Bison Conservation Transfer Program. The funds secured by the conservation organizations match the $500,000 that the National Park Service allocated to the project. 

Started in 2019, the transfer program identifies brucellosis-free bison and moves them through a multi-year quarantine process, with the goal of eventually relocating the animals to selected tribal and public lands. With the number of wild bison growing 10-17% annually, Yellowstone officials typically capture and kill hundreds of bison each year to manage the population; the transfer program provides an alternative.

The funds raised by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and Yellowstone Forever will help build new holding pens and other infrastructure improvements that will allow nearly three times as many bison to enter the program. That, in turn, will divert more bison from being shipped to slaughter, and allow the transfer of diseased-free bison from Yellowstone to their historic native ranges. 

The program is run by Yellowstone National Park and is made possible by partnerships with the Fort Peck Tribes, InterTribal Buffalo Council, State of Montana, and support from nonprofits. 

“Expanding the capacity of this important program is one of our top wildlife conservation priorities,” said Superintendent Cam Sholly. “Our thanks to Yellowstone Forever, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and all donors who have helped make this a success. We’ve proven this model can work in cooperation with our U.S. Department of Agriculture, State, and tribal partners and look forward to more progress in the future.”

Lisa Diekmann, president and CEO of Yellowstone Forever, thanked its partners and donors for their contributions to the successful fundraising effort.

“Wildlife conservation is one of our highest priorities, and this project represents an important milestone for Yellowstone National Park and our tribal partners,” she said.

Greater Yellowstone Coalition Executive Director Scott Christensen offered similar thanks to partners and donors.

“We are thrilled to support this exciting effort to increase the number of Yellowstone bison that can be kept alive and restored to tribal lands,” he said.