Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Bison are making an exciting comeback and returning in greater numbers to the Great Plains of North America. Plains bison—commonly called buffalo—hold tremendous cultural and spiritual significance and are considered relatives among many of North America’s Indigenous people. In this episode of World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Café series, Alexander Nicolas speaks with Dennis Jorgensen and Noelle Guernsey about why restoring bison is crucial for ecosystems and Native people; and how communities, WWF, and many others have been helping to ensure the remarkable return of these animals to the grasslands of North America’s Great Plains.
About Dennis Jorgensen: Dennis manages WWF’s bison restoration initiative in the Northern Great Plains. In 2013, Dennis was elected Vice-Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) North American Bison Specialist Group and is currently participating in the IUCN Red-List assessment of the status of North American Bison. Dennis Jorgensen has worked for World Wildlife Fund as a Program Officer in the Northern Great Plains since 2007. Learn more about Dennis: worldwildlife.org/experts/dennis-jorgensen
About Noelle Guernsey: Noelle is a conservationist and ecologist who is guided by an appreciation of the natural world, native wildlife assemblages, and healthy ecosystems that support local communities as they envision. At WWF, she works on efforts to restore bison and black-footed ferrets. Prior to joining WWF in 2019, she was the Program Manager for the Prairie Dog Coalition working to conserve and restore the prairie dog ecosystem, including with partners in the Northern Great Plains. Learn more about Noelle: worldwildlife.org/experts/noelle-guernsey
Join us and learn more about wildlife conservation at the Wildlife Cafe: worldwildlife.org/pages/wildlife-cafe
Links to learn more:
Bringing Bison Back: worldwildlife.org/initiatives/bringing-bison-home#:~:text=What%20WWF%20Is%20Doing&text=Our%20primary%20focus%20is%20working,acres%20within%20the%20Great%20Plains.
Native Nations lead the way to returning bison to their traditional homelands: worldwildlife.org/stories/native-nations-lead-the-way-to-returning-bison-to-their-traditional-homelands
Facts about the Plains Bison: worldwildlife.org/species/plains-bison
Bison help to restore grasslands: worldwildlife.org/stories/bison-help-to-restore-grasslands
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Chapters:
0:00 In this episode…
0:20 Welcome to Wildlife Café!
1:23 How are bison ecological and cultural keystones?
3:53 Why are they referred to as both bison and buffalo?
4:49 What drove the decline of bison numbers, and why is their restoration important?
7:51 How do WWF and others partner with Native Nations on this restoration?
11:04 What does a Tribal buffalo program look like?
15:00 Dennis and Noelle share how varied their roles and work can look
22:04 Personal experiences witnessing the release and return of buffalo
Bison are making an exciting comeback and returning in greater numbers to the Great Plains of North America. Plains bison—commonly called buffalo—hold tremendous cultural and spiritual significance and are considered relatives among many of North America’s Indigenous people. In this episode of World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Café series, Alexander Nicolas speaks with Dennis Jorgensen and Noelle Guernsey about why restoring bison is crucial for ecosystems and Native people; and how communities, WWF, and many others have been helping to ensure the remarkable return of these animals to the grasslands of North America’s Great Plains.
About Dennis Jorgensen: Dennis manages WWF’s bison restoration initiative in the Northern Great Plains. In 2013, Dennis was elected Vice-Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) North American Bison Specialist Group and is currently participating in the IUCN Red-List assessment of the status of North American Bison. Dennis Jorgensen has worked for World Wildlife Fund as a Program Officer in the Northern Great Plains since 2007. Learn more about Dennis: worldwildlife.org/experts/dennis-jorgensen
About Noelle Guernsey: Noelle is a conservationist and ecologist who is guided by an appreciation of the natural world, native wildlife assemblages, and healthy ecosystems that support local communities as they envision. At WWF, she works on efforts to restore bison and black-footed ferrets. Prior to joining WWF in 2019, she was the Program Manager for the Prairie Dog Coalition working to conserve and restore the prairie dog ecosystem, including with partners in the Northern Great Plains. Learn more about Noelle: worldwildlife.org/experts/noelle-guernsey
Join us and learn more about wildlife conservation at the Wildlife Cafe: worldwildlife.org/pages/wildlife-cafe
Links to learn more:
Bringing Bison Back: worldwildlife.org/initiatives/bringing-bison-home#:~:text=What%20WWF%20Is%20Doing&text=Our%20primary%20focus%20is%20working,acres%20within%20the%20Great%20Plains.
Native Nations lead the way to returning bison to their traditional homelands: worldwildlife.org/stories/native-nations-lead-the-way-to-returning-bison-to-their-traditional-homelands
Facts about the Plains Bison: worldwildlife.org/species/plains-bison
Bison help to restore grasslands: worldwildlife.org/stories/bison-help-to-restore-grasslands
---------------------
Chapters:
0:00 In this episode…
0:20 Welcome to Wildlife Café!
1:23 How are bison ecological and cultural keystones?
3:53 Why are they referred to as both bison and buffalo?
4:49 What drove the decline of bison numbers, and why is their restoration important?
7:51 How do WWF and others partner with Native Nations on this restoration?
11:04 What does a Tribal buffalo program look like?
15:00 Dennis and Noelle share how varied their roles and work can look
22:04 Personal experiences witnessing the release and return of buffalo
