How Pollinators Power Our Prairie: The Heart of Regenerative Bison Ranching
- Shane & Ibby Bridwell
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
Why Pollinators Matter for a Healthy Prairie
Pollinators are the unsung heroes of the prairie.
Without them, native plants wouldn’t bloom.
Grasses wouldn’t seed.
Soil wouldn’t stay rooted.
And bison wouldn’t thrive.
Over 75% of flowering plants depend on pollinators. That includes key prairie species like coneflowers, prairie clover, goldenrod, and milkweed.
These plants nourish the soil,
Provide food for wildlife,
And feed our bison.
In Kansas, there are over 400 species of native bees alone (Kansas Biological Survey, 2023). Add butterflies 🧘 and moths 🐛 to the mix, and you've got a pollination powerhouse keeping the prairie alive.
Why Should You Care About Pollinators?
Pollinators directly impact the food you eat.
No pollinators = no wildflowers.
No wildflowers = no healthy soil.
No soil = no grass for grazing animals.
No grass = no healthy bison.
They also:
Increase plant diversity
Improve soil retention and water infiltration
Create habitat for birds, butterflies, and wildlife
By supporting pollinators, you support strong ecosystems, nutrient-rich food, and healthy futures.
How We Protect Pollinators:
❌ No Synthetic Chemicals
We don’t spray our pastures with insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides. These chemicals harm bees, butterflies, and soil microbes.
Instead, we let native plants grow freely, including milkweed, sunflowers, goldenrod, and prairie clover.
⚔️ Patch-Burn Grazing
We use controlled burns on small patches of land each year. This mimics natural prairie fires and encourages biodiversity.
Different flowers bloom in different years. That means a steady buffet for pollinators across the seasons.
Patch-burn grazing has been shown to increase native bee populations by up to 3x (Nature Conservancy, 2017).
🐑 Regenerative Grazing Practices
Our bison rotate through meadows to prevent overgrazing. This allows wildflowers and grasses to rebound and flourish.
Healthy plants = more blooms = more pollinators.
🌿 Habitat Preservation
We protect bare soil, fallen logs, plant stems, and other natural nesting habitats for bees and butterflies. No tilling. No over-clearing.
🌸 Who Are the Prairie Pollinators?
🐝 Native Bees
Leafcutter bees
Bumble bees (like Bombus huntii)
Sweat bees
These are solo flyers with huge impacts. Some specialize in pollinating only a single type of flower.
🧘 Monarchs & Butterflies
Monarchs love milkweed.
Swallowtails, painted ladies, and hairstreaks add beauty and function.
They feed on nectar and help pollinate as they travel.
🐛 Moths
Often overlooked, but important.
Night-blooming wildflowers rely on moths for reproduction. They play a key role in the evening shift of pollination.
A Shared Future:
Pollinators make life possible.
For the prairie.
For the bison.
For us.
At Bluestem Bison Ranch, we don't just raise bison.
We steward a system of life, from the tiniest bee to the biggest bull.
Each cut of meat tells a deeper story.
One of bees, blooms, fire, and care; all woven into a prairie that’s still wild, still thriving.
Want to taste the difference a wild, pollinator-powered prairie makes?
Explore our bison shares and join us in honoring the land.
Sources:
Kansas Biological Survey, 2023
The Nature Conservancy: Patch Burn Grazing Benefits, 2017
USDA Pollinator Health Task Force, 2020
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