Source: Denver Gazette
Beginning in January 2026, Colorado will classify bison as both livestock and wildlife, giving Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) authority to manage free-ranging bison as part of a broader Western restoration effort. Once numbering an estimated 60 million, American bison were driven to near extinction by the late 1800s, including the disappearance of Colorado’s last native herd. Conservation efforts have since boosted U.S. populations to 30,000–40,000 wild bison and about 420,000 Plains bison in commercial herds.
Although Colorado currently has no resident wild herds, bison from Utah’s Book Cliffs occasionally cross the border. Under the new policy, fenced, privately owned animals remain “livestock,” while free-roaming bison will be treated as “wildlife” and classified as big game, though the state has no plans for a hunting season. CPW says this dual status prepares Colorado for future wild herds and supports development of a Book Cliffs Bison Herd Management plan.