HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — In a landmark conservation effort, the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) Backcountry Wilderness Area, Denver Mountain Parks (DMP), Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and Sanctuary Golf Course have partnered to reintroduce bison to native prairie habitat in Highlands Ranch, marking the first time these iconic animals have grazed this landscape in more than a century and a half.
The managed grazing initiative will allow the historic Daniels Park bison herd to seasonally graze approximately 150 acres of native prairie within the Backcountry Wilderness Area. The project supports habitat stewardship, ecological restoration, conservation education, and scientific understanding of the vital role bison play in maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems.
Bison are widely recognized as a keystone species whose natural grazing patterns help maintain diverse native plant communities, improve soil health, support wildlife habitat, and increase grassland resilience. Their return represents an important step toward restoring ecological processes that once shaped Colorado's Great Plains landscapes.
“These bison carry forward a conservation legacy that began more than a century ago with Colorado's first wildlife reintroduction at Genesee Park,” said Shannon Dennison, Director of DMP. “The Daniels Park bison are the direct descendants of the animals that helped bring the species back to the state. Seeing bison reestablished on land where they have been absent for more than 150 years is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished through true partnership, and we’re proud to join Highlands Ranch Backcountry Wilderness Area, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, and Sanctuary Golf Course in making this historic milestone possible.”
The bison will remain under the management of DMP, whose conservation herd is among Colorado's most historically significant. The herd traces its lineage to some of the last wild bison in North America, including bison from Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance that helped establish the Genesee Park herd in the early 1900s. Today the herd plays an important role in preserving genetic diversity and supporting broader conservation efforts.
“Our Great Plains Field Conservation team has been proud to collaborate in this work at Daniels Park alongside partners across the region who are helping care for this historic herd and the vital grassland ecosystem they sustain,” said Brian Aucone, Chief Conservation Officer at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. “Bringing bison into the Backcountry Wilderness Area builds on that shared commitment in a meaningful way. This effort at the intersection of science, community, and action helps us to better understand how bison use these landscapes, strengthen habitat stewardship, and connect more people with the role this iconic species plays in Colorado’s natural heritage.”
The Backcountry Wilderness Area's expansive conservation landscape provides an ideal setting for the project, balancing habitat protection, education, and carefully managed recreation. In addition to ecological benefits, the initiative offers residents and visitors a unique opportunity to connect with Colorado's natural heritage and learn about the historic relationship between bison, grasslands, and Indigenous cultures.
“The Backcountry Wilderness Area is uniquely suited for a project like this. As a 7,000-acre conservation landscape, it allows us to balance habitat protection, education, and carefully managed recreation while preserving a place where wildlife can thrive. Hosting these bison is a natural extension of that mission,” said HRCA CEO/GM Mike Bailey.
The return of bison to the Backcountry Wilderness Area stands as a powerful symbol of restoration, resilience, and regional partnership. Together, the participating organizations are helping shape a healthier future for Colorado's grasslands while reconnecting the community to an important chapter of the region's natural history.