2F: Keystone Connections: Bison as a Catalyst for Ecological and Cultural Resilience
Monday, October 6, 2025, 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
For well over a century, bison have been a cultural and ecological keystone of the Denver Mountain Parks system. Beginning with Denver’s first conservation herd in 1898, bison have played an important role in natural grassland processes and have also fostered cultural and social change. DMP has changed its bison management practices over the last decade, including transferring bison to indigenous herds and to Denver’s indigenous community for an annual bison harvest. This session will explore the evolution of DMP’s bison management practices, the history and significance of the Tall Bull Memorial Grounds and their annual bison harvest, Denver’s Zoo important role in guiding science-based decisions and facilitating partnerships, and the role of the Highlands Ranch Backcountry Wilderness Area in reintroducing bison onto lands where they haven’t set hoof for at least 150 years. This important four-way partnership demonstrates how collaboration can re-shape our ideas of land stewardship and how indigenous communities can work with local governments to re-connect to the land in a meaningful way.
Experience Level: Entry Level/Early Career, Intermediate