Wild Bison in Colorado Could Be Protected with Passage of Groundbreaking Bill

Denver, CO - Wild bison that move into Colorado could be safeguarded following passage of the Protect Wild Bisonbill in the state General Assembly that designates the national mammal as protected wildlife.

Sponsored by Sen. Jessie Danielson (D-Wheatridge), SB 25-053 designates wild bison as big game wildlife. Colorado law previously recognized bison only as livestock, a recognition from the 1800s when slaughtering took more than 30 million animals throughout North America down to less than a few hundred.

A handful of wild bison from the Book Cliffs in northeastern Utah have been wandering into Colorado, where they have been shot and killed. This valued native species had no protections under Colorado law, and the people killing the animals were legally able to do so. The Protect Wild Bison bill makes that a crime, similar to poaching other threatened wildlife.

Bison are the national mammal of the U.S. since the passage of a federal law in 2016 that drew broad bipartisan support. Biologists estimate between 30 million to 60 million bison roamed North America at the time of European contact before the commercial slaughter of the animals.

Native Americans are deeply connected to bison for cultural, spiritual, and nutritional values. In recent decades, efforts to restore bison on Tribal and public lands have gained momentum for their role as keystone species and in Tribal cultures. The Protect Wild Bisonbill recognizes those values, and- as Utah has shown- bison can live on the landscape and play an important role in restoring grassland ecosystems.

The coalition of organizations that worked to help secure the passage of SB 25-053 include Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, Environment Colorado, and Colorado Wildlife Federation.

We thank Sen. Danielson and House sponsors Rep. Junie Joseph (D-Boulder) and Rep. Elizabeth Velasco (D-Glenwood Springs). The bill now awaits Gov. Polis' signature.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.