Tribal partners, NDSU redefine bison management

A new shepherding system being developed in North Dakota holds the promise of transforming bison management by bridging centuries-old traditions and the latest technology.

Known as BisonGuard, the project weaves together generations of Indigenous tradition with pioneering technology—harnessing drones, robotics, and artificial intelligence, to foster healthier herds and strengthen bonds between innovative science and cultural wisdom.

An example of how AI’s usage in agriculture is expanding rapidly is BisonGuard, a hands-off, intelligent tool for tracking bison herds in real-time while keeping them safe.

COLLABORATION

The collaboration was initiated and is supported by the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota, developed as a partnership between the Engine, Tribal partners, and North Dakota State University researchers.

While exploring cattle management opportunities for researchers, NDSU Interim Vice President for Research Heidi Grunwald discovered that Armstrong Aboah, an NDSU assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, had been developing new ways to manage cattle herds across the state. Grunwald knew that individuals from the Engine had already met with local bison producers and discovered the industry’s need for modernized herd management technology. Seeing an opportunity for collaboration, Grunwald contacted the Engine and connected them with Aboah.

Cetan Wanblie Williams, Innovation Manager at the AgTech Engine, met with Aboah to determine whether his research could be repurposed from cattle and tailored for bison herds. Williams summarized the aim of the project as, “No collars, no fences, no round-ups--rather we use drones to support buffalo being buffalo, safely.”

Aboah successfully modified his work, and the resulting proposal was then presented to the Standing Rock-based organization Wozu through a connection facilitated by Indigenous rights advocate Jodi Archambault, leader of the Indigenous-led nonprofit organization Anpo.

A 501(c) (3) non-profit, Wozu (which means “to plant”) has worked on many aspects of culture, tradition, and food sovereignty, including regenerative agriculture, bison rematriation, reclaiming lifeways, and production of traditional foods. The organization also works to reintroduce bison herds to the Standing Rock Reservation, given the animal’s role as an integral part of the tribe's spiritual, cultural, and economic history.

While the research initially took a broad approach to intelligent livestock monitoring, Aboah notes that Wozu played a key role in shaping the new system. His team learned about specific challenges-both technical and cultural-involved in managing free-ranging bison herds. Their insights helped steer the project toward creating a system that aligns with Tribal stewardship values and emphasizes noninvasive herd management.

The Wozu connection played a vital role in shaping BisonGuard, ensuring it reflects cultural lifeways, traditional land stewardship, and spiritual connections to the bison. “Wozu’s partnership provided critical field access, local knowledge, and guidance on ensuring that the system’s design respected traditional land practices,” Aboah said. “Their insights helped us refine the objectives, particularly in designing the virtual fencing component and ensuring autonomous operation that supports conservation and sovereignty goals.”

Rather than acting as an outside entity, the Engine aims to work in tandem with the community. Through the Wozu partnership, Standing Rock community members have been heavily involved in the design, planning, and research for the BisonGuard project. The Engine provided funding of $121,095 for years 1 and 2 of the project.

“BisonGuard is not just a use-inspired research project; it fosters opportunities for researchers and communities to co-develop relationships to advance technology that strengthens food security,” said Hollie Mackey, NSF AgTech Engine CEO. “This project is solving an immediate agricultural need and being responsive to a community need.”

“BisonGuard is more than just a technology; it’s a model for research and partnership that respects Tribal sovereignty and Indigenous culture,” said Grunwald. “The project directly supports the community's food sovereignty efforts by ensuring the health of the herds and the land. By engaging with the community in the use of AI, robotics, and data analytics, the local and NDSU teams are supporting future AgTech workforce opportunities for the Standing Rock Reservation.”

Mackey notes an even larger potential impact of the work. “As part of the U.S. quincentennial in 2026, a series of events across the nation is scheduled related to the Bison Treaty,” she said. “The Bison Treaty is a living agreement between Native Nations in the United States and First Nations in Canada to restore bison to their historic lands and renew their cultural significance among Tribal nations in North America. BisonGuard's relevance extends beyond herd management and health-it may contribute to the restoration of the American Bison to its homelands.”

TECHNOLOGY AND IMPACT

The research concepts behind BisonGuard were formed at NDSU’s Sustainable Mobility and Advancing Research in Transportation (SMART) Lab, which initially aimed to monitor cattle using AI and computer vision.

“BisonGuard addresses critical challenges in livestock management that directly affect the agricultural and Tribal economies of North Dakota,” said Aboah. It arrives at a time when ranchers and herd managers are struggling to maintain continuous oversight of large, free-ranging herds due to labor shortages, vast grazing areas, and challenging environmental conditions.

“These challenges often delay the detection of illness, nutritional deficiencies, or straying animals, leading to financial losses and reduced productivity,” Aboah said.

The benefits of the system include improving bison welfare, maximizing resource utilization, decreasing environmental impact, and empowering Indigenous communities and conservationists through advanced, actionable insights. When harvested, healthy bison herds produce meat with greater nutritional value and higher-quality products.

Tested with Wozu herds, BisonGuard combines advanced technology with Indigenous knowledge for sustainable and ethical herd management.

“BisonGuard represents the next generation of livestock intelligence, bridging autonomous systems research with Indigenous knowledge to advance sustainable and ethical herd management,” Aboah said.

The first phase of developing BisonGuard focused on designing and implementing virtual fencing and virtual tagging. To achieve this, the system utilizes computer vision, spatial mapping, and AI-based recognition to determine movement within invisible digital boundaries and identify individual bison based on their unique characteristics, eliminating the need for traditional physical barriers and tags.

“This phase has been completed and validated in collaboration with the Wozu herds, demonstrating the feasibility of automated containment and individual tracking in open-range environments,” Aboah said.

The next step will include expanding the system’s capabilities to include health assessments, behavioral modeling, and autonomous coordination between drones and ground robots.

By combining technology with natural concepts, BisonGuard aims to replicate the natural behavior of bison herds, keeping them safe and together. Ground robots guide the herd, much like wolves, while drones monitor the area from above, similar to crows. Cameras and AI virtually tag each bison, spotting early signs of illness, poor nutrition, or straying. Data is analyzed instantly and shared with herders via a digital dashboard, allowing for quick action.

STUDENT IMPACT

Two of Aboah’s students were key contributors to the project.

“As co-project lead on BisonGuard, I built the AI system that tracks individual bison across multiple cameras, creates behavior heatmaps, and maintains real-time zone-level counts across the 300-acre range,” said Joshua Kofi Asamoah, NDSU SMART Lab doctoral student. “These analytics send phone alerts when an animal strays or goes missing and give caretakers a clear picture of where the herd spends time, all without tags or collars. This non-invasive approach enhances herd welfare, saves staff time, and supports community safety and planning while advancing AI research at NDSU.”

Fellow NDSU SMART Lab graduate student Andrew Danyo developed a tracking system using facial recognition technology to identify and monitor bison movements across more than 300 acres of farmland, providing real-time location updates.

“The facial recognition capability is crucial because it allows farmers to track individual animals' health patterns, detect unusual behaviors early, and maintain detailed records for each bison in their herd, enabling personalized care for each animal,” Danyo said.

Danyo has also learned much through his collaboration with the Standing Rock community. “It’s been incredibly rewarding. Their enthusiasm and warmth have shown me the real human impact of this technology, and it's a powerful reminder that AI innovation can make a meaningful difference in people's daily lives and livelihoods."

“This research is particularly significant for North Dakota because it strengthens the intersection between agricultural innovation, rural resilience, and cultural stewardship,” Aboah said. “By merging Indigenous knowledge with advanced technologies developed at NDSU, BisonGuard promotes sustainable herd management practices, reduces operational costs, and reinforces the state’s leadership in precision agriculture and AgTech innovation. BisonGuard continues to position North Dakota as a leader in AI-enabled, ethical, and sustainable herd management innovation.”