north american bison

history

Bison once roamed North America in numbers that reached up to the millions. As a result of the abundance, these animals were a critical part in the way of life of the Native American tribes. The Native Americans made sure that no parts of the bison went to waste; bison meat was a staple in every meal, hides were used for clothing and shelters, bones were used to make various tools, and so much more! However, as European Americans settled in the west in the 1800s, a campaign was started to remove the Native American tribes in the area by removing their main food source - the bison. U.S. Army troops and market hunters (individuals who hunted animals professionally in order to make a living) began to kill hundreds of thousands of bison. By the late 1880s, the bison population had dropped from upwards of 10 million to just fewer than 1,000; some estimate that only 300 animals survived the mass slaughter. In an attempt to save bison from extinction, some animals were humanely captured and placed onto private farms for their protection. Despite the presence of U.S. Cavalry soldiers in the parks, poaching of bison still continued until Congress passed the Lacey Act in 1894; this legislation allowed Yellowstone to prosecute anybody that took part in removing or killing wildlife from the park. In another attempt to continue the preservation of this species, Yellowstone purchased 21 bison from private owners and raised them in Mammoth and the Lamar Buffalo Ranch. These 21 animals eventually began to mix with the park’s free-roaming herd of about two dozen bison, and the population grew to approximately 1,300 by 1954! In 1905, the American Bison Society (ABS) was formed to support the recovery of the species. The joint effort of many different organizations has successfully saved the bison from extinction! Today, there are about 360,000 bison that are privately owned, and about 31,000 wild bison are protected in national parks and wildlife rescues. Although the population is not yet what it used to be over 100 years ago, it has flourished greatly and is still improving to this day! Many ranches all over the U.S. are proud to be a part of conservation efforts. The North American Bison was also named the national mammal of the United States in 2016 and is recognized as a symbol of America’s identity, as well as one of the greatest conservation success stories! The production and sale of The Original Red Meat plays a large part in modern growth of the once abundant mammal. Join us in enjoying this healthy food source of the past by feeding your family with low-fat, high-protein meat!