Types of Bison in New Hampshire

No. The American bison (Bison bison) is native to the grasslands of the Great Plains and western North America. Bison never naturally occurred in New Hampshire or anywhere in New England. Before European settlement, bison ranged from the Great Plains east to the Appalachian region, but the eastern subspecies was hunted to extinction in the 1700s. New Hampshire's natural habitat of dense forests and small openings was never suitable for wild bison populations.

New Hampshire is home to moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, and smaller mammals such as beavers, porcupines, and muskrats. Moose are the largest wild land mammal in the state, weighing up to 1,000 pounds. White-tailed deer are abundant throughout forests and edges. Black bears inhabit forested areas statewide. These animals are adapted to New Hampshire's mix of forest, shrubland, and wetland, unlike bison, which require open grassland.

The iNaturalist observations in New Hampshire labeled as bison are almost certainly misidentifications of domestic cattle or sheep. Domestic livestock can resemble bison from a distance, especially brown or dark-colored cattle. iNaturalist data is crowdsourced, so misidentifications happen, particularly when users are not familiar with livestock versus wild animals. Verified observations of actual bison in New Hampshire are essentially nonexistent.

Bison reintroduction in New Hampshire is not feasible. Bison need large, open grasslands for grazing and roaming. New Hampshire's landscape is approximately 80 percent forested with limited large grasslands or prairies. The state's forests would not support a wild bison population. Bison herds exist in western states, national parks like Yellowstone, and specialized conservation preserves, but these are in regions with suitable habitat and management resources that New Hampshire does not have.

Bison populations in the United States are limited to specific western locations. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho has the largest wild bison population. The Nature Conservancy manages herds in the Great Plains. Private ranches and tribal lands also maintain conservation herds. A small population exists in Alaska. No established wild or feral bison populations live east of the Rocky Mountains. Bison conservation focuses on western grassland ecosystems where they evolved.

If you encounter an unusually large, dark-colored grazing animal in New Hampshire, it is almost certainly domestic livestock such as cattle, water buffalo, or yak. Bison sightings in New Hampshire are not credible. If the animal is on private land, it may be a ranch animal. If it is on public land and looks unusual, contact New Hampshire Fish and Game to report it. They can help identify what you have seen and determine if it is lost livestock or simply a misidentified deer or moose.

Bison have a large shoulder hump, a shaggy mane and beard, curved horns, and massive body weight (up to 2,000 pounds). Their head is larger and more rounded than cattle. Bison have a distinctive grunt and call. Domestic cattle have a smaller shoulder, straighter profiles, and less body hair. However, in New Hampshire, you are unlikely to encounter either wild bison or feral cattle. If you see livestock, report it to the landowner or local animal control.