File Photo 2009 Yellowstone National Park
Are Wild Bison becoming an endangered species? During a recent outing to Bozeman Montana, my wife and I had the privilege to meet two representatives from the organization known as Buffalo Field Campaign based out of West Yellowstone, Montana. Prior to this encounter, we’d always assumed that wild herds of Bison living in Yellowstone National Park were protected. We were wrong.
Prior to the European invasion of North America, millions of Bison could be seen grazing the grasslands of the U.S. and Canada. Bison and Salmon were common foods eaten by those who were native to these area’s. As the native peoples were herded up and placed onto many reservations, the great American Bison were being slaughtered to near extinction. Yellowstone National Park became one of the last wild settings where the American Bison could truly roam free.
For many decades, those who head up the powerful cattle lobby have argued against the freedom of American Bison. A common disease found in some Bison (brucellosis) is also found in some cattle and other wild game such as Elk. Elk are allowed to roam America freely, why are we citizens funding a government program that hazes wild Bison as seen in this video?
To learn more about Bison, click any of the links found in this article. As with the American Bald Eagle, I believe Buffalo deserve federal and state protection.
It’s no secret that Bison meat is healthier for humans than beef. Our elected leaders need to know these facts and make correct decisions concerning American Bison. The cattle industry is dumping an inferior product onto our family dinner table and into our restaurants.
