Reintroducing bison to tallgrass prairies enhances plant biodiversity and improves drought resilience, according to a Kansas State University study based on 29 years of Flint Hills data.

Bison grazing increases native plant biodiversity by 0.58 to 1.06 species annually, outperforming cattle, which boost biodiversity at half the rate. Bison graze year-round, forming grazing lawns that reduce dominant grass cover and create space for diverse plants, unlike cattle that graze mainly in growing seasons.

During the extreme 2011–2012 droughts, bison-grazed areas recovered to pre-drought levels within two to four years, showing greater resilience than cattle-grazed or ungrazed areas. Deep-rooted plants in bison-grazed ecosystems compete less for water, unlike dominant grasses in ungrazed areas that rely on shallow soil moisture.

Once numbering in the millions, bison were nearly wiped out in the 1800s. Researchers suggest rewilding bison could restore biodiversity and ecological balance to the Great Plains, where about 5,000 now roam Kansas.