Whether it is Bison bison bison (Plains Bison) or Bison bison athabascae (Wood Bison), we know it as the American buffalo. With an original range from the Appalachians to the Rockies and from the Yukon to Mexico, the buffalo once numbered millions. I have seen numbers from 15,000,000 to 60,000,000, suggesting the need for a more accurate census at the time of Columbus.
During the 19th century, the buffalo was nearly exterminated. When, in 1884, the Smithsonian Museum sent naturalist Hornaday to find specimens for display, he needed two trips to meet his quota The result now has been relocated to Montana.
The Plains Indians depended on the buffalo for their sustenance. Th
ey and the early explorers ate the buffalo and used its hide for everything from coats to boats.
In the “dog days”, before the Indians acquired horses, they hunted the buffalo by stampeding them over cliffs, called Buffalo Jumps.
Later, the Army encouraged the killing of as many buffalo as possible in order to subdue the Indians by taking away their food supply. Bones were piled by the railroads, to be taken east and turned into fertilizer.
It is impossible to vidualize the early West without the buffalo. Artists like Frederick Remington and Charlie Russell provide the basis for our vision. This painting of a buffalo herd by Russell is titled significantly “When the Land Belonged to God.”
By the early 20th century only 1,000 animals survived in North America, about 450 in the U.S. and 550 in Canada. Many were in private herds. Early cattlemen admired the sturdy endurance of the buffalo and bred then with cattle in an attempt to add buffalo characteristics. The result has been some confusion about the genetics of today’s buffalo, some of which carry cattle genes.
With the revival of interest in this native animal, today 350,000-500,000 (again, a need for a better census) bison can be found in public and private herds. The buffalo is seen an a vital element in preserving the grasslands landscape.
Tourists today have been many opportunities to sample buffalo burgers and to see the buffalo roaming free in state and national parks.
Click here for a slide show.
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Wonderful post on the bison. I’m thankful enough have been preserved to allow us to enjoy them today.
You might find something of interest in diary on the American Bison
http://firefliesandbonfires.com/weblog/blog1.php/2009/11/13/morning-worship_american-bison
I feel kinship to discover another with interest in these wonderful animals and their history. As You will see from the link they were a concrete part of my childhood and as well as family lore
Yes, it’s really striking when you see them in their natural landscape, not as captivein a zoo, although it was the naturalists plus zoo people plus Teddie Roosevelt who started the group which created the first bison reservations.
To me, the bison represent a gift from nature. When we ignore the natural environment and destroy the gift, we invite our own destruction.
I also have a western origin through my father and his parents: http://silverseason.wordpress.com/family/topeka-1912/
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Thanks for writing this post! It is really difficult to believe that in a space of around 400 years, the bison population has been reduced from millions to a thousand! It is extremely hard to believe! But I am glad to know that there are atleast more than 350,000 bisons today.