Leading the Pack at the Buffalo Races -- American Bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
by Darin Volpe
Title
Leading the Pack at the Buffalo Races -- American Bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Artist
Darin Volpe
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Yellowstone National Park is home to the only continuous herds of wild American Bison (often, though incorrectly, referred to as buffalo) in the United States. It is estimated that there were once 30 million bison on the North American continent, but within 400 years of European's arrival in the Americas there were less than 600 wild bison left. Conservation efforts began as early as 1864, but laws were rarely enforced and did nothing to curb the animal's decline. In fact, the federal and state governments actively encouraged the killing of bison to extinction in an effort to control the Native American populations. When Yellowstone National Park was established, the legislation provided against wanton destruction of animals in the park, but staffing and funding were not provided to enforce the law. By 1884 there were only 25 bison left in the park.
Yellowstone National Park is home to the only continuous herds of wild American Bison (often, though incorrectly, referred to as buffalo) in the United States. It is estimated that there were once 30 million bison on the North American continent, but within 400 years of European's arrival in the Americas there were less than 600 wild bison left. Conservation efforts began as early as 1864, but laws were rarely enforced and did nothing to curb the animal's decline. In fact, the federal and state governments actively encouraged the killing of bison to extinction in an effort to control the Native American populations. When Yellowstone National Park was established, the legislation provided against wanton destruction of animals in the park, but staffing and funding were not provided to enforce the law. By 1884 there were only 25 bison left in the park.
Since then, conservation of the bison began to be seen as a worthwhile effort, and today there are estimated to be about 350,000 bison, with the Yellowstone herds consisting of about 5,000. The conservation efforts are not without challenges. There are still conflicts with cattle ranchers in Montana that mandate that Yellowstone Park periodically cull their herds to keep too many wild bison from migrating into that state. Yellowstone's grasslands can only support so many animals, and there are simply no large areas of unsettled prairie for bison to roam free.
Since then, conservation of the bison began to be seen as a worthwhile effort, and today there are estimated to be about 350,000 bison, with the Yellowstone herds consisting of about 5,000. The conservation efforts are not without challenges. There are still conflicts with cattle ranchers in Montana that mandate that mandate that Yellowstone Park periodically cull their herds to keep too many wild bison from migrating into that state. Yellowstone's grasslands can only support so many animals, and there are simply no large areas of unsettled prairie for bison to roam free and
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November 18th, 2019
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