American bison have returned to the prairies of Kane County, Illinois, for the first time in over 200 years. The event took place at the Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in Sycamore, where a small herd of bison was released onto the land. This reintroduction was organized by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, the American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC), and Ruhter Bison, which will manage the herd.
The project is the result of several years of planning and cooperation. The Forest Preserve District included this initiative in the 2024 Land Acquisition & Preserve Improvement Referendum. Bison once lived throughout Illinois, but most prairie land was converted to farmland or developed during the industrial revolution. Today, less than one-tenth of one percent of Illinois’ original prairie remains, affecting native plant and animal species.
Conservation agencies have worked to restore prairie ecosystems and native wildlife. Benjamin Haberthur, Executive Director of the Forest Preserve District, said the return of bison is an important step for conservation in the region. He noted that recent increases in bison herds across the country have made such projects possible. Haberthur called the reintroduction a significant achievement for local conservation efforts…