Oklahoma Prairie Bison Population Surges, Boosting Ecosystem Restoration

In 1993, Kenneth and Dianna Adams donated 300 bison to The Nature Conservancy, sparking a prairie restoration program that has now expanded the herd to over 2,000 animals. The Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve hosts this growing population, which actively shapes plant diversity and supports a range of wildlife habitats. Bison grazing, combined with controlled fires, helps sustain the ecological balance of this rare grassland ecosystem. Despite these gains, less than 4 % of the original tallgrass prairie remains, underscoring the ongoing importance of such restoration efforts.