Colorado Grants Wild Bison Legal Protection

Overview

On May 22, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed the Protect Wild Bison bill (SB 25-053) into law, establishing new protections for the iconic and underprotected bison. The legislation makes it illegal to hunt wild bison without a permit by classifying them as wildlife, once again making Colorado a haven for America’s National Mammal. SB 25-053 was sponsored by NCEL members State Senator Jessie Danielson, State Representative Junie Joseph, and State Representative Elizabeth Velasco.

• Why It Matters: Over 30 to 60 million bison once roamed across the country until they were almost eradicated by settlers. In one of America’s greatest conservation successes, bison are beginning to recover with thriving herds found in a number of states, such as Arizona and Utah. Wild bison previously had no protections in Colorado due to their sole classification as “livestock.” This meant that bison from out of state – namely Utah’s Book Cliffs herd – that crossed the border could legally be shot and killed. Bison’s new status as “big game” and “wildlife” in Colorado now prevents such killing and affords bison new protections.

Key Provisions of SB 25-053

Colorado’s Protect Wild Bison bill (SB 25-053) will work to conserve and restore wild bison populations by doing the following:

• Classification: Establishes two new categories of classification (in addition to “livestock”) for bison in Colorado: “wildlife” and “big game” alongside other species such as elk, pronghorn, and black bear. The bill also clarifies that certain bison are still considered “livestock.” 
• Penalties: Sets penalties for the unlawful take of bison, including a fine between $1,000 – $100,000, jail time with a maximum one-year sentence, and potential suspensions of hunting licenses. 
• Recognition of Tribal Sovereignty Connection: The bill explicitly recognizes the importance of bison for Native American communities as: “This action represents a step toward making amends for the attempted genocide of American Indians through the eradication of their food source, the bison.”

Policy Focus: State and Tribal Collaboration 

In an effort to uphold Tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship between the State of Colorado and the Ute Mountain Ute and the Southern Ute Tribes, lead sponsor Senator Danielson ensured State and Tribal collaboration on SB25-053. Further, the bipartisan Colorado Indian Interim Affairs Committee chose to advance this bill for consideration in the 2025 session.

Other State Action on Bison 

A number of states are acting to protect bison and restore their ability to roam freely. Minnesota is leading among the states with recent legislation (SF 20, HF 4425, SF 550, SF 698) funding bison reintroduction, associated infrastructure construction, and interpretative learning opportunities at state parks. South Dakota’s SB 54 allocated $5 million for the construction of a bison education center at Custer State Park.

Stay Up To Date on Wildlife and Biodiversity Policy With NCEL

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