Most tribes are still not deeply invested in modern agricultural technologies. However, many tribal economies are presently involved in livestock production. Winter livestock protection is a critical issue for reservations. Tribal ranchers recognize that exotic animals such as cattle have harder times dealing with severe winters than do indigenous species such as buffalo. Northern Plains tribes have an historic affinity with buffalo, which have a greater sustainability under climatic extremes.
Most reservations now have significant bison herds.
However, bison herds foraged naturally by escaping from their snow and ice covered pastures to look for food. Additional cattle losses were sustained with the ice storms which attended the calving season. Plains Indian tribes can see themselves reflected in the fate of the buffalo. Once driven to the brink of extinction, tribal populations have returned and are growing. As the buffalo at Yellowstone are restricted to the National Park, dependent upon the management practices of the federal government, Indian tribes have had their land and resource bases reduced to the present day reservations.