Bison Population by State 2025
South Dakota
30,035
Nebraska
28,047
Montana
19,157
Idaho
18,634
North Dakota
12,127
Colorado
11,119
Wyoming
9,755
Texas
7,512
Wisconsin
5,899
Kansas
5,727
New Mexico
4,942
Oklahoma
4,162
Michigan
2,722
Iowa
2,386
Kentucky
1,936
Oregon
1,888
Alaska
1,518
California
1,396
Pennsylvania
1,251
New York
1,089
Ohio
986
Washington
975
Indiana
811
Virginia
729
Illinois
703
Tennessee
350
Florida
342
New Hampshire
306
North Carolina
264
Minnesota
239
Arkansas
206
Mississippi
171
Alabama
153
Vermont
149
Georgia
148
New Jersey
100
Louisiana
78
South Carolina
71
Maryland
43
Nevada
16
Missouri
8
State | # Domestic Bison↓ | |
|---|---|---|
 | South Dakota | 30,035 |
 | Nebraska | 28,047 |
 | Montana | 19,157 |
 | Idaho | 18,634 |
 | North Dakota | 12,127 |
 | Colorado | 11,119 |
 | Wyoming | 9,755 |
 | Texas | 7,512 |
 | Wisconsin | 5,899 |
 | Kansas | 5,727 |
 | New Mexico | 4,942 |
 | Oklahoma | 4,162 |
 | Michigan | 2,722 |
 | Iowa | 2,386 |
 | Kentucky | 1,936 |
 | Oregon | 1,888 |
 | Alaska | 1,518 |
 | California | 1,396 |
 | Pennsylvania | 1,251 |
 | New York | 1,089 |
 | Ohio | 986 |
 | Washington | 975 |
 | Indiana | 811 |
 | Virginia | 729 |
 | Illinois | 703 |
 | Tennessee | 350 |
 | Florida | 342 |
 | New Hampshire | 306 |
 | North Carolina | 264 |
 | Minnesota | 239 |
 | Arkansas | 206 |
 | Mississippi | 171 |
 | Alabama | 153 |
 | Vermont | 149 |
 | Georgia | 148 |
 | New Jersey | 100 |
 | Louisiana | 78 |
 | South Carolina | 71 |
 | Maryland | 43 |
 | Nevada | 16 |
 | Missouri | 8 |
 | United States | 178,150 |
- Posted rates are for bison kept in commercial herds per the USDA’s 2017 Census of Agriculture
- It is estimated that between 30 million and 60 million bison lived in North America during the mid-1800s. However, they were heavily hunted during the late 1800s, and by 1889 fewer than 600 remained. Careful conservation and breeding efforts enabled the species to avoid extinction. Today, population estimates range from approximately 200,000 to 500,000 bison, with roughly 30,000 living in the wild and the rest in commercial herds.
- In 2017, the National Bison Association set a goal of expanding the bison population to 1 million by 2027.
State | # Domestic Bison |
|---|---|
| United States | 178,150 |
| South Dakota | 30,035 |
| Nebraska | 28,047 |
| Montana | 19,157 |
| Idaho | 18,634 |
| North Dakota | 12,127 |
| Colorado | 11,119 |
| Wyoming | 9,755 |
| Texas | 7,512 |
| Wisconsin | 5,899 |
Sources
- Miscellaneous Livestock and Animal Specialties 2017 - Bison Central
- Plains bison - US Fish and Wildlife Service
- 15 Facts About Our National Mammal: The American Bison - US Department of the Interior
- American Bison - Wiki
- Interior Department Announces Significant Action to Restore Bison Populations as Part of New Restoration and Resilience Framework - US Department of the Interior
- Major bison restoration campaign launches today - National Bison Association
