American bison are currently present in New Mexico, though their existence is managed and distinctly different from the vast, free-ranging herds of their historical past. Their presence today is a direct result of focused reintroduction efforts and private or tribal stewardship. The bison population in the state exists as a combination of tribal herds, animals managed on private land, and a small cross-border herd.
Current Status and Locations
Bison in New Mexico today are segregated into three management categories, none of which constitute a fully wild or unmanaged population. The largest component consists of animals owned by private ranches, such as the Vermejo Park Ranch and the Ladder Ranch, where they are protected within extensive fenced areas. These private herds are often managed as commercial livestock for meat production and sometimes for controlled hunting.
Tribal entities also maintain significant herds, recognizing the bison’s deep cultural and ecological connection to the land. The Taos Pueblo, for instance, manages a conservation herd. This herd recently received additions of genetically pure bison from Yellowstone National Park to enhance genetic diversity. This focus highlights the distinction between bison managed for conservation versus those managed purely for commercial production.
A third category involves the Janos-Hidalgo herd, a rare group that moves between Chihuahua, Mexico, and New Mexico. This herd has persisted in the Chihuahuan Desert grasslands since the 1920s, representing a unique cross-border population. Their movement and management are subject to international and state regulations. While a definitive total census for New Mexico is not publicly available due to the number of private operations, the population is stable within these controlled environments.
Historical Presence and Decline
The American bison once occupied a vast historical range that extended into New Mexico, covering the eastern plains and reaching the Chihuahuan Desert in the south. Archaeological records indicate that bison were present throughout the state for centuries. Evidence suggests they were abundant on the Plains of San Agustin until approximately AD 1250. This confirms that the bison is an ecologically native grazer to the region.
The decline of the bison population began in the 19th century, driven by factors related to westward expansion. Overhunting by settlers and market hunters dramatically reduced herd numbers. This process was sometimes encouraged as a means to remove a primary resource for Native American tribes. The introduction of Spanish horses also contributed to the decline, as the horses competed directly with bison for grazing resources and simultaneously made hunting easier. These pressures led to the near-total disappearance of the species from New Mexico’s landscape, rendering them locally extinct for decades by the end of the 1800s.
Key Conservation and Management Efforts
Modern efforts to restore and maintain bison in New Mexico are collaborative and strategic, focusing on the future health and sustainability of the species. State agencies, like the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, work with landowners and tribal entities to monitor herd health and manage populations. The state’s classification of bison as non-native livestock, however, presents a unique regulatory challenge, often limiting traditional conservation protections that apply to native wildlife.
Tribal nations have taken a leading role in conservation, often working with organizations like the InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC) to restore bison as a cultural and ecological keystone species. These programs prioritize genetic conservation. This is exemplified by the introduction of animals from herds like the one in Yellowstone National Park to prevent inbreeding and bolster the gene pool. Other groups, such as the New Mexico Bison Restoration Network, are exploring rewilding projects that emphasize the bison’s ecological role in landscape restoration and local food security.