Before the arrival of white colonizers in North America, approximately 70 million wild buffalo roamed freely from northern Canada to as far south as Mexico. In an effort to suppress many Indigenous tribes that relied on this animal, the U.S. government waged a war against the buffalo that drove it to near extinction. By the end of the 19th century, the herd had been reduced to 23 animals, which found refuge in the high-elevation interior areas of Yellowstone National Park. Today, the wild population hovers around 5,000 individuals that are still threatened by hunters, cattle farmers, habitat loss, and climate change. Roam Free Nation was created in 2022 to bring awareness to the issue and protect the migratory buffalo living in and around Yellowstone National Park. Through field monitoring and advocacy on the internet and in the media, Roam Free Nation intends to be a “buffalo-centric” voice speaking from the perspective of the buffalo and supporting the preservation of wildlife.
In the winter, wild buffalo often leave the park’s borders in search of food and end up being caught and slaughtered. Photo: Stephany Seay
Roam Free Nation is a small organization founded by four volunteers worried about the threats to wild buffalo in Yellowstone National Park. Its board includes Montana residents and an Indigenous member from the Northern Cheyenne Nation. The organization’s volunteers actively monitor the fields, documenting in photos and videos any actions taken against wild buffalo, particularly during their winter migration when the animals leave the high-elevation areas of the park and move to lower regions in search of warmer temperatures and food. Wild buffalo are often captured and rounded up for slaughter during this time of year. In addition to their work with buffalo, Roam Free Nation also advocates for the protection of other wildlife. They have taken a public stance against efforts to delist the grizzly bear as an endangered species in Yellowstone. Roam Free Nation stands as a beacon of resistance against the destruction of nature, working to sustain a healthy wildlife community.
Roam Free Nation’s volunteers document any threats to the wild buffalo of Yellowstone National Park. Photo: Stephany Seay