Bison advocates go for space Bison, commonly called buffalo, are not an endangered species in the USA, but there are only about 20,000 or fewer wild bison nationwide, says Keith Aune, senior conservation scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society. Many wild bison live in national parks or reserves. Conservationists want to expand the territory for bison to roam and ensure they remain a public resource. "Our mission is also to restore the connections between people and bison," Aune says. A government research project aimed at building up the nation's wild herds began in 2005. At a joint federal-state compound near Gardiner, Mont., bison from Yellowstone National Park have been quarantined and prepared for new homes by government veterinarians. This winter, if all goes well, about 42 bison will be relocated in the West, says Jack Rhyan, a veterinarian with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which operates the Corwin Springs compound with the state of Montana. More will follow, he says. Several parties — including parks, conservation groups, tribes and private landowners — are likely to make proposals this fall to accept some of those animals....