Context . Wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) have been absent from Alaska for over 170 years. In the spring and summer of 2015, however, 130 animals were reintroduced to the state. These wood bison were restored through a consensus-based planning process, but it remains unknown how the animals will be managed.

Aims . To survey urban and rural Alaska residents to understand the effect of proximity to the resource on residents’ preferences for management of wood bison in different scenarios.

Methods . Data were collected in urban areas using a mail-back questionnaire (n = 515) and by on-site interviews with rural residents (n = 31), between June and September 2015. Respondents were asked to state their preferred wood bison management strategies under specific situations of potential human–bison conflict.

Key results . Residents from urban and rural study areas differed in their preference of bison management, particularly in more severe situations (i.e. damage to property, causing injury to people).

Conclusions . Urban and rural residents were reluctant to use lethal management of wood bison, even under situations that threaten human property.

Implications . Backlash from urban residents could occur if managers use lethal management. Rural residents, however, favour lethal management when human injury occurs.