Skip to content
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Menu
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Happy News

How 5,000 Bison Are Reawakening Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is witnessing a striking ecological recovery driven by the return of roughly 5,000 bison whose migration across the park’s grasslands is restoring ancient patterns and reshaping the landscape from the ground up according to a groundbreaking study published in Science. These bison, descendants from the last surviving wild herd, now roam across nearly 1,000 miles each year along a 50 mile corridor, and by grazing, trampling, and fertilizing the land they create a mosaic of habitats that supports a wider variety of plants and animals from insects to predators. Research led by ecologist Bill Hamilton at Washington and Lee University compared vegetation and soil chemistry on grazed and fenced plots, discovering that despite heavy grazing, plants grew as robustly as in undisturbed areas and were an astonishing 150 percent richer in protein.

Hamilton describes the transformation as a true reawakening of what had been there in the past, urging people to consider how far landscapes had shifted from their original state since bison were nearly wiped out in the 19th century. Yellowstone grasslands are now functioning better than in the bison’s absence, offering a glimpse of what was lost and providing scientists with rare insights into how large herbivores influence entire ecosystems. While the park’s bison population fluctuates between 2,400 and 5,500, policymakers are considering expanding their range with tribal trust support to strengthen genetic resilience by allowing herds from different areas to mix freely. The revival follows decades of conservation, habitat protection, and multi agency management designed to balance ecological restoration with disease control and agricultural concerns, though challenges remain with herd mobility constrained by borders and human wildlife conflict. The success at Yellowstone proves that when given space to roam, bison can reconnect fragmented habitats and ensure populations remain healthy and adaptable while restoring landscapes to their natural functioning state.

PrevPreviousScientists Extract Ancient RNA From 39,000 Year Old Woolly Mammoth
NextWhat Rescuers Did With A Bluetooth Speaker Saved This Otter PupNext

Recent Articles

Happy News

Bill Nye Will Receive His Well Deserved Lifetime Achievement Award

February 8, 2026

Bill Nye the Science Guy is about to receive one of the highest honors in children’s television when the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presents him with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Annual Children’s and Family Emmy Awards on March 1 at Jazz at Lincoln Center

Read More
Happy News

Taylor Swift’s Kitchen Skills Were Unexpected

February 8, 2026

Taylor Swift has become a beloved member of the Kelce family not just through her relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce but also through her impressive skills in the kitchen, particularly her baking abilities that have won over the entire clan including Chiefs teammates. On her podcast Not Gonna Lie,

Read More
Happy News

Will and Jada Smith Support Their Son During Fashion Week Debut

February 8, 2026

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith proudly supported their son Jaden at his debut appearance as Christian Louboutin’s first men’s creative director during Paris Fashion Week, and they reportedly looked to be in great spirits despite living separately since 2016. The couple’s outing marked the first time they had been

Read More
« Previous Next »
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2026 HappyNews.