Wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) are currently listed as threatened throughout their range in Canada and United States. Wood bison in Alaska are part of a nonessential experimental population, a special designation that supports recovery efforts by reducing the regulatory requirements that typically apply to listed species.

Under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Service may designate a population of a listed species as experimental if it will be released into suitable habitat outside the species’ current range to further the conservation of the species. An experimental population may be designated as “nonessential” if it is not essential to the continued existence of the species.

Wood bison populations have been established along the Innoko River in Southwest Alaska, and in the Lower Tanana River drainage approximately 50 miles southwest of Fairbanks. Establishment of a third population is planned for 2027 near the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Updates can be found on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game webpage at Wood Bison Restoration in Alaska.

Short answer: ESA section 7 consultation is only required for projects intersecting or occurring on National Wildlife Refuge or National Park System lands. 

Long answer: For purposes of section 7, a nonessential experimental population is treated as a threatened species wherever it occurs within National Wildlife Refuge System or National Park System lands, and consultation is required for projects intersecting or occurring on these lands.

Outside of National Wildlife Refuge System or National Park System lands, for the purposes of section 7, a nonessential experimental population is treated as a species proposed for listing, triggering conference under section 7(a)(4) instead of consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the ESA. Because other federal agencies are not required to consult with us under section 7(a)(2) for a species proposed for listing, a nonessential experimental population designation reduces the regulatory requirements that typically apply to listed species.

Section 7 Section 7
Section 7 Consultation The Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs all Federal agencies to work to conserve endangered and threatened species and to use their authorities to further the purposes of the Act. Section 7 of the Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.

Learn more about Section 7 (a)(4) requires federal agencies to confer (rather than consult) with the FWS on actions that are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a species proposed for listing. The results of a conference are in the form of conservation recommendations that are optional as the agencies carry out, fund or authorize activities. Because the nonessential experimental population is, by definition, not essential to the continued existence of the species, the effects of proposed actions affecting the nonessential experimental population will generally not rise to the level of jeopardizing the continued existence of the species. As a result, a formal conference will likely never be required for individuals established within the experimental population area.

Activities that are not carried out, funded, or authorized by federal agencies are not subject to provisions or requirements in section 7. In addition, the FWS does not designate critical habitat for nonessential experimental populations.

Please email the Service at ak_fisheries@fws.gov to initiate the consultation process. Learn more about consultation under the Endangered Species Act at https://www.fws.gov/service/esa-section-7-consultation