“Anywhere you find humans, you find the extinction of species,” says biologist Mathias Pires, a professor of biology at Campinas State University (UNICAMP) in Brazil. The near-eradication of the American bison (Bison bison), the largest land animal in North America, is a case in point. These one-ton bovines once roamed the prairies in herds numbering […]
Tag: bison
55 bison herds restored across 19 states by indigenous tribes
Jimmy Doyle is concerned because a trio of bison have congregated around the remains of a fourth animal. Doyle, who maintains the Wolakota Buffalo Range in a rural corner of south-western South Dakota in one of the country’s poorest counties, said, “I truly hope we’re not on the verge of some disease breakout.” As Doyle […]
A study finds that bison restoration on tribal lands has cultural, ecological, and economic benefits
Beginning in the early 1800s, the American bison, our national mammal, was hunted to near extinction, with fewer than a thousand remaining by the end of the century. Bison, America’s biggest land-dwelling mammal, helps in the balance and maintenance of a healthy ecosystem, as well as the creation of habitat for a variety of species, […]
Decline of threatened bird highlights planning importance of bison releases
The story of the American bison is both tragic and uplifting. Once dappling the prairies of North America in the tens of millions, hunting winnowed the number to perhaps a thousand survivors by the end of the 19th century. Nearly wiping out the continent’s largest surviving land animal was a bloody stain on the century-old […]
‘Gentle giants’: rangers prepare for return of wild bison to UK
“When you see them in the wild, there’s this tangible feeling of humility and respect,” says Tom Gibbs, one of the UK’s first two bison rangers. “The size of them instantly demands your respect, although they are quite docile. I wouldn’t say they are scary, but you’re aware of what they can do.” The rangers […]
900 Bison at Yellowstone to be Relocated or Shot
Officials have agreed to allow as many as 900 bison from Yellowstone National Park to be sent to quarantine or be shot by hunters. This decision was made because of the fear of the bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle as they journey to Montana for the winter. Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that can be […]
Where the wild things are: a trip to Romania’s southern mountains
From this pile of logs onwards, we need to be completely silent,” says Georg Messerer, our guide through Romania’s southern Carpathians. His head cocks 45 degrees as a bird starts chirping. “Nuthatch,” he whispers, reaching for his binoculars. “And two red deer.” Georg directs our gaze to a row of apple trees, where sure enough, […]
Grand Canyon National Park Opens Bison Hunting
Grand Canyon National Park has put out a call for hunters. A dozen spots opened up to thin a herd of bison in the national park, the Associated Press reported. Officials opened up the spots to help remove bison that they said have been trampling on resources, including archaeological spots, and spoiling water. “Areas are […]