National Geographic Interactive - 02.2020

Fort^ P

eck^

La

ke

Missouri

197

453

180

Bison pasture

Number of bison

2

2

191

AMERICAN PRAIRIE RESERVE

WHITE

ROCK

DRY FORK

SUN PRAIRIE

SUN PRAIRIE

NORTH

TWO

CROW

RANCH

TIMBER

CREEK

BLUE RIDGE

BURNT LODGE

Glasgow

To Malta and Pop. 3,328

Saco, MT

PETROLEUM

22,138

GARFIELD

74 , 2 62

VALLEY

61,831

PHILLIPS

76,901

FE

RG

US

C

O.

PE

TR

OL

EU

M

C

O.

PH

IL

LIP

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CO

.

VA

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CHARLES M. RUSSELL
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
CHARLES M. RUSSELL
N.W.R.
UL BEND N.W.R.

(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

APR

(830)

UNITED STATES

ALASKA

(U.S.)

MEXICO

CANADA

Mississippi

River

MONTANA

“Save the cowboy” is a rallying cry for many

locals who see APR as an unwelcome outsider.

The ranchers don’t want to raise cattle alongside

bison, fearing disease exchange between species,

as well as the return of apex predators. They say

each acre taken from cattle grazing threatens

ranching operations and hurts the local economy.

APR aims to protect 3.2 million acres—an area larger

than Yellowstone National Park—and establish a

herd of 10,000 bison. This would benefit other native

species, such as prairie dogs, wolves, and even griz-

zly bears, and return the landscape to a wilder state.

APR lands are public reserves, open to hunters,

campers, and others wishing to connect with nature.

RESTORING THE WILD DEFENDING RANCHERS

Building bison herds

APR’s three bison herds are fenced

in and closely studied. The goal is

to develop a large, roaming bison

population, but APR needs expan-

sive pastures to do so.

Dying on the plains

Before the westward expan-

sion of the U.S., at least 30 mil-

lion bison roamed across North

America. They were driven to

near extinction by the late 1800s.

The Lewis and Clark

Expedition first

passed through this

area in May 1805.

• ically meant for cattle grazing.
  This land is counted as part of
  the reserve, but raising bison
  requires special permitting.

Today the estimated

500,000 bison in the U.S.

and Canada are raised

mainly for food production.

Some 30,000 are managed

for conservation.

These are private lands that

APR has already purchased.

It is allowed to build struc-

tures and maintain bison

herds on its properties.

419,000 ACRES

Total area owned and leased by

APR from 30 land transactions

Historic range of Bison bison

Grassland eco-region

Populations of

bison managed

for conservation

5000

1000

100

APR

deeded land

APR

leased land