The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 823: Restoring Alaska's Wild Buffalo
Jan 19, 2026
Join Tom Seaton, the Lead Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Wood Bison Restoration Project, as he dives into the thrilling challenge of reintroducing wood bison to Alaska. He discusses the legal nuances of buffalo classifications, sourcing animals from Canada, and habitat constraints. Learn about the ecological importance of restoring these animals and the complexities of population dynamics, including the risks of winter mortality and the surprising navigational skills of bison. Tom sheds light on community involvement in conservation and the ongoing efforts to ensure the wood bison thrive.
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Policy Determines Wildness
- In the lower 48 most bison are private livestock, not wildlife, which blocks large-scale wild restoration.
- Colorado's rule that naturally arriving bison are wildlife shows a policy path to increase wild herds.
Wood Bison Are Distinct And Northern
- Wood bison historically occupied boreal forests from central Canada into western interior Alaska.
- They differ visibly from plains bison in hump, hair, and behavior, reflecting adaptation to northern conditions.
Captive Herds Supplied Releases
- Alaska consolidated confiscated and imported wood bison into captive herds at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and UAF.
- Those herds now produce 8–10 releasable animals yearly for restoration work.
