How Many Bison Live in South Dakota?

The American Bison once roamed large swaths of the U.S. in herds as far as the eye could see. At one point in time, bison could be found in much of Canada, the United States, and even Mexico. It's estimated that in 1830, there were between 40-60 million bison roaming the great plains of North America, many of which were right here in South Dakota.

That all changed when the railroads came through, as new settlers began killing the animals off in dangerous numbers. But thanks to conservation efforts, the bison population levels have rebounded, and these days the animal is thriving. But which U.S. state has the most bison?

Your first guess might be Wyoming. It's the first place you may think of when the subject of bison comes up in conversation. Yellowstone has a number of large herds roaming the park. If you've ever been, you've likely seen them all over the place.

Montana is another strong contender for the most bison. The state has a long history with the animal, and a number of parks and ranches are home to dozens of herds across the state. Surprisingly, though, it's neither of those. In fact, the Mount Rushmore State has (by far) the most bison in the entire nation. But how many, exactly? And where do they live?

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Credit: Canva

At last count, South Dakota is home to nearly 40,000 Bison. Nebraska comes in second (around 28,000), followed by Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota.

Not only does South Dakota have large herds of Buffalo at Custer State Park and Badlands National Park, but many tribal areas are also home to large numbers of the animal. And, unlike other states, bison farms are a pretty big deal in the Mount Rushmore State.

Credit: World Population Review Website

Bison are an important part of South Dakota's history. So much so, that it's surprising that the Coyote, not the Bison, is the state animal of South Dakota.

For more interesting facts on the Bison, and the full detailed list, check out the article at World Population Review.