Image: Wade Lehmann
On May 9, President Obama signed the National Bison Legacy Act, which names the American bison as the national mammal of the United States.
American bison were nearly wiped off the face of the planet by hunters in the 1800s. Thankfully for this species, a small group of ranchers gathered individuals from the disappearing herds; If not for them, bison would be extinct today.
Image: Marshal Hedin
Bison, also called buffalo, are the largest land mammal in North America. Males weigh up to 2,000 pounds and can reach 6 feet in height.
Despite being so large, these unique animals can run up to 35 miles an hour, swim, and even jump fences.
Currently, there are about 500,000 bison on private lands and roughly 30,000 on public lands, including environmental and government preserves.
Their populations, however, remain fragmented. The largest population thrives in Yellowstone.
The Department of the Interior reports, “Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the U.S. where bison have continuously lived since prehistoric times. What makes Yellowstone’s bison so special is that they’re the pure descendants (free of cattle genes) of early bison that roamed our country’s grasslands. As of July 2015, Yellowstone’s bison population was estimated at 4,900 — making it the largest bison population on public lands.”
Bison are certainly bouncing back, but are still listed as “Near Threatened” by IUCN and have a long way to go.
Image: Travel Manitoba
“While substantial progress in saving bison from extinction was made in the 20th century, much work remains to restore conservation herds throughout their vast geographical range…” -Dr. Cormack Gates, co-chair of the IUCN Bison Specialist Group.
This new listing is a step in the right direction!
