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Who is Phil?
Phil is no ordinary bison. His genetic makeup is 100% Yellowstone, carrying the traits of Wyoming’s last herd to roam wild during America’s dark history of 1800s market hunting, greed, and purposeful destruction of Tribal buffalo ways of life.
Establishing Yellowstone National Park ended bison poaching to keep bison wild in today’s 1-million-acre park. Today, cutting-edge science is focused on preserving the Yellowstone herd’s genetic diversity.
Why makes Phil so special?
Bred through artificial insemination at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Phil represents something extraordinarily rare: a living, breathing link to the roots of North American bison. Through reproductive science, Phil was born to breed and produce multiple calves that like him will have DNA without cattle genes detectable using current technology—making him a "high genetic integrity" bison—plus a lineage tracing entirely to the wild Yellowstone herd. For a species that once teetered on the edge of extinction, that combination helps reverse damaged done by decades of isolation and historical crossbreeding. Phil isn't your average bison. He's a legacy gifted by both nature and science to protect the Yellowstone lineage.
Why does Phil need our help?
Phil currently lives on a private ranch in Minnesota. As the ranch no longer needs Phil for breeding, we have the opportunity to move him to a new herd to continue his part in the restoration of bison across North America. Phil is an irreplaceable link in the recovery of his species, and the ranch realizes that. Given the great value that Phil has for conservation of the Yellowstone herd, the ranch has offered to work with us to get Phil to a new home.
Why Phil matters for the future of bison conservation…
High genetic integrity bison are essential to the long-term health and resilience of North American bison populations. Phil's lineage, combined with the genetic diversity delivered through advanced reproductive science, makes him a uniquely valuable animal for conservation breeding efforts. Initially, we will return him to Colorado State University, which continues to play a leading role in the bison conservation effort, ensuring that he has every opportunity to live the long, meaningful life he deserves among his fellow bison and continue contributing to the effort that brought him into the world.
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Together, we can help secure a stronger future for the bison, our U.S. National Mammal.
How you can help:
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Donate — Every dollar brings Phil one step closer to home. No contribution is too small.
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Share — Spread the word with your friends, family, and networks. Awareness is as powerful as dollars.
Phil's story is a reminder that wildlife restoration happens one animal at a time. Thank you for being part of his journey.
Help Us Bring "Yellowstone Phil" Home
Make A Difference Today
When you make a tax-deductible donation to WRF, you're supporting the most effective solutions for "boots on the ground" protection of wildlife and habitats.
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WRF is different from most conservation organizations you’ll hear from this season. We don’t spend your dollars on office space, lobbying or lawsuits; we maximize impact on park wildlife survival by directly supplying resources for boots-on-the-ground action. We respond to the wildlife priorities of park partners—unmet because wildlife fall to the bottom of the public funding list.
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WRF needs Americans to care about park wildlife. Please give today to support WRF in its mission to return abundant and healthy native animals to America’s parks—on the land and in the ocean.
