Storied Animal by bmac62
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Description
Meet the North American Bison. One of ten in a small conservation herd here in Leavenworth. My earliest recollections of this animal came through the autobiography of Buffalo Bill Cody. Cody lived in Leavenworth as a boy. His father tanned and sold buffalo hides.
For 10,000 years there were millions of North American Bison (erroneously called buffalo) roaming what today is central Canada and the USA. By 1889, unrestrained hunting diminished the great herds to a mere 1,091. The economies of the Native American plains tribes were absolutely dependent on bison as their main source of food and bison hides were essential to their way of life.
Today there are an estimated 500,000 bison, most living on ranches crossed with cattle and raised for food. It is estimated that there are 30,000 pure bred bison in the US and 5,000 in Canada in conservation herds where the bison gene pool can be maintained.
Thanks for stopping by...
Bill
Comments (25)
Mondwin
Really a very lovely image...bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx
MrsRatbag
Great capture! A stately and beautiful animal...
skipper62
Great shot... a Beautiful animal.. You ought to get one for Mandy to play with. Skipper62
Alz2008
Wonderful capture, Excellent well done..
MrsLubner
Bison... dumb looking but survivalist by any standard. With nothing but bison, a man can live forever. This one creature is the key to this life if ever we should need it. But that's just one dumb face...beautiful, but not so bright.:-) Stellar view.
bmac62
To MrsLubner (PJ), You are right. Unfortunately, the bison's lack of situational awareness and fear of man led to their near extinction at the hands of the buffalo hunters. One or two professional hunters would go out with a complete support troop with them (wagon masters, skinners, cooks, laborers, etc.), set up next to a herd and begin to pick them off one after the other from 100 yards away. The herd would be oblivious to the danger until it was to late for many of their members. Talk about shooting fish in a barrel. Just glad to see they've made a comeback today at least in a controlled environment. Bill
Meisiekind
Gosh Bill, it truly saddens me to see this, like PJ said, rather dumb looking animal, yet a vital part of the ecology, come to near extinction. It reminds me of Africa and all the animals that roamed free on this continent. The human race is really messing up the planet!! Thank goodness for people, like youself, who care and make an effort across the globe to conserve and save... Thank you for sharing their story! :)
drace68
Looks like a young adult, Bill. Good image. In 1890, while designing the Wyoming state flag, there was an argument as to how to face the bison. Someone who knew said, "Ridiculous! The buffalo always faces into the wind." And so he does on Wyoming's flag today, albeit with the state seal on his side. Buffalo meat is available in quite a few stores in Tulsa - very lean, very pricey compared to beef.
durleybeachbum
I watched a programme (about Stephen Fry in the states) in which it was revealed that one wealthy man owns the biggest herd of these in the world. can't remember his name though!
dbrv6
Great capture. I have always been glad that there are those that have fought to keep land open for the Wild Mustang herds. It would be nice to see it done for these too.
kenmo
Nice capture...!!!!
kansas
Great capture. Sad tale about the bison. Their eyesight is not good and that is why they could not detect danger. We have a number of ranches not far away which raise them. They are not crossed with cattle here.
bronwyn_lea
Great capture. He is beautiful!
goodoleboy
Fine capture of the big guy, just idling the day away. I remember stories about idiot pistol-packing yahoos shooting at bison from the windows of trains, which really decimated the herds of these noble beasts.
vkoontz
Nice pic. The purebred bison is the last of the North American mega fauna. There is a farm in Pa. that I have been at.
debbielove
Another example of man being a complete ARSE!!! On the picture side! A lovely, cute picture. What a darling. Bet his mum wouldn't let you pet him though!! On the conservation side! Just a guilt trip I'm afraid. They are only allowed where man wants them to go. But a beautiful animal. One of the Icon's ofv America. It should be loved and allowed to roam free. Rant over! Rob.
neiwil
We have a small herd in North Wales would you believe.Passed them many times.Going out that way in a couple of weeks and this time I must stop and get some photo's.Personaly I've always thought them a noble beast.The huge woolly head is just amazing.I knew numbers had reovered, but didn't realise there where that many.Thanks, great photo and information.
MagikUnicorn
Stunning shot!
kimariehere
fabulous American Bison capture !!! a real beauty!!
kasalin
Wonderful capture !!! Excellent well done, dear Bill !!! 5***** Hugs:):):)
sharky_
I hope their pure line can survive and roam the earth freely like the old days. Nice capture and info. Aloha
billcody
Hello Bill! Thanks for your emali! Yeahh, the buffalo, as billcody I know..and I´m ashamed what I have done.... I have never seen a whole herd in my live, only in a lot of films, and this was very impressive, too! How impressive it must be to see a whole herd in nature..I´m happy that they have alive and they are many thousand in our recent days. Wonderful pic, thanks for sharing! Greetings from Bill to Bill...LOL
efron_241
a lot to see in this image.. it is GREAT
Buffalo1
Mistakenly called "Buffalo"? Well, Bill, they are magnificent beasts and your study does them justice. Howevere I tend to be prejudiced!
mermaid
a wonderful shot, Bill, and it's so sad to hear the story again, they were so pride in roaming free...glad they are preserved