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DENVER (April 28, 2025) — Wild bison that move into Colorado could be safeguarded following passage of the bill in the state General Assembly that designates the national mammal as protected wildlife.

Sponsored by Sen. Jessie Danielson (D-Wheatridge), SB 25-053 designates wild bison as big game wildlife. Colorado law previously recognized bison only as livestock, a recognition from the 1800s when slaughtering took more than 30 million animals throughout North 皇冠体育app官网平台 down to less than a few hundred.

A handful of wild bison from the Book Cliffs in northeastern Utah have been wandering into Colorado, where they have been shot and killed. This valued native species had no protections under Colorado law, and the people killing the animals were legally able to do so. The Protect Wild Bison bill makes that a crime, similar to poaching other threatened wildlife.

Bison are the national mammal of the U.S. since the passage of a federal law in 2016 that drew broad bipartisan support. Biologists estimate between 30 million to 60 million bison roamed North 皇冠体育app官网平台 at the time of European contact before the commercial slaughter of the animals.

Native 皇冠体育app官网平台ns are deeply connected to bison for cultural, spiritual, and nutritional values. In recent decades, efforts to restore bison on Tribal and public lands have gained momentum for their role as keystone species and in Tribal cultures. The Protect Wild Bison bill recognizes those values, and– as Utah has shown– bison can live on the landscape and play an important role in restoring grassland ecosystems. 

The coalition of organizations that worked to help secure the passage of SB 25-053 include Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, Environment Colorado, and Colorado Wildlife Federation.

We thank Sen. Danielson and House sponsors Rep. Junie Joseph (D-Boulder) and Rep. Elizabeth Velasco (D-Glenwood Springs). The bill now awaits Gov. Polis' signature.