Bison grazing is a powerful ecological force with the potential to restore native prairie habitat but also reduce forage for livestock. Exactly how bison influence habitat depends on the scale and distribution of grazing behaviors across time and space, information that until recently has largely been lacking. A team of scientists at FORT are working with multiple partners to fill this knowledge gap. For example, a study published earlier this year found that grazing bison in the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park improved plant productivity and nitrogen uptake, highlighting the important role bison play in semi-arid, high-elevation grasslands.

FORT and partner scientists also investigated the influence of fencing on bison grazing behavior and potential impacts of grazing. Although bison maintained some habitat diversity through patchy foraging across fenced lands, fences ultimately restricted bison movement, reducing potential restoration benefits of bison grazing to smaller areas. To maximize potential ecological benefits, the project emphasizes that herd managers with limited space could decrease bison population density, and where possible, expand bison space allocation across larger landscapes where feasible.