Thunder Valley reintroducing bison

PORCUPINE— September 28th, 2026 – On October 6th 2026, Thunder Valley CDC will be releasing 50 head of bison to a 39,904 acre range unit in the Badlands National Park. This part of the Badlands is called Oonak̄ijiŋ, the Stronghold, in the Lakota language. Reintroducing bison to the land will demonstrate the restorative impact of native species and Indigenous land stewardship practices.

In spring of 2023, Thunder Valley CDC signed a lease agreement with the National Parks Service. The range unit previously was used to run cattle, but during the past two years has been allowed to rest. Thunder Valley has worked with Ranch Advisory Partners, Inc. to collect baseline data on the ecological health of the area. This data will provide a reference to compare changes in biodiversity, soil quality, and other environmental indicators. Their report concludes that the land shows signs of recovery from legacy grazing impacts.

As a keystone species, the return of the bison to this land will improve its soil quality and biodiversity by restoring the ecological roles they used to perform. Bison graze differently than cattle; by moving more frequently and eating less of each individual plant they allow the plants to regrow quickly. 

To support the herd, 26.5 miles of fencing were put in over this summer by contractor Fulton Ag LLC. They fenced the perimeter and built a processing area for the bison, ensuring that the fence lines would be durable enough to protect them and stand up against the strong winds that are common in the area. 

In addition to the bison, Thunder Valley is using some of this protected land to reintroduce native plant species that are overharvested in more accessible areas, including sage and prairie turnip. This work is part of a broader movement to restore the health of the Lakota homelands through active stewardship, regenerative techniques, and broad partnerships with nonprofits, government agencies, and the plants and animals that share the same home.

Thunder Valley CDC is a grassroots, community-based non-profit organization in the Pine Ridge Reservation. They are living their sovereignty as they build an entire community, from the ground up, as a catalyst to create mindset shifts amongst their people in their journey for liberation. For more information contact: advancement@thundervalley.org

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