60 million bison in America in the 1700s to only about 31,000 today. They should be mad at people.
The Indian needed food
He needed skins for a roof
But he only took what they needed, baby
Millions of buffalo were the proof
Yeah, its all right
But then came the white man
With his thick and empty head
He couldn’t see past the billfold
He wanted all the buffalo dead
It was sad
It was sad
Oh yeah, yes indeed
Oh yes
Agree 100%!
Current Bison Population in the United States
Today, there are roughly 191,913 bison in the United States, according to the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture data World Population Review. This figure represents bison kept in commercial herds on private ranches and farms, not wild populations.
Broader North American Context
If you include wild bison and other herds, the total number of bison in North America is estimated at about 500,000 iere.org. This includes:
~30,000 bison on tribal lands in the U.S. and Canada nationalbison.org
~11,000 bison in U.S. federal herds nationalbison.org
~10,000 bison in state and other public herds nationalbison.org
The rest in private commercial herds.
Historical Perspective
Before European settlement, bison numbers were estimated at 30–60 million across North America nationalbison.org. By the late 1800s, fewer than 1,000 remained due to hunting and habitat loss. Conservation efforts since the early 20th century have led to a dramatic recovery.
Summary
U.S. commercial herds: ~191,913 bison World Population Review
Wild & tribal herds: ~30,000–40,000 bison nationalbison.org
Total North America: ~500,000 bison iere.org
This recovery is a conservation success story, but bison populations remain far below their pre-settlement levels, and ongoing management is essential to maintain genetic diversity and ecological health.