Return of the Bison

Bison, better known as buffalo, once numbered in the millions. It has been written that there were as many as 75 million buffalo in North America. Slaughtered for their hide, tongue and just for sport, they were reduced to less than 1,000 animals by 1890. Saved from extinction by the foresight of a few ranchers, the bison began its remarkable comeback.

Today, the national herd numbers around 350,000. With a growing interest in bison, the national herd has doubled its size in the past five years. Most of the animals are owned by private ranchers and farmers and the remainder by the government in State and National Parks.