A keystone species, Bison play a major role in maintaining a healthy and balanced ecosystem. They are also extremely cold-tolerant, with thick wooly coats that insulate their skin from harsh environments. They are able to withstand temperatures as low as negative forty degrees Fahrenheit, battling blizzard conditions to get to grass beneath the frost.

 

In the 19th century, the westward expansion of European colonists across the continent drove the species into rapid decline. The slaughter of Bison is the largest extermination of an animal in modern history, led directly by the United States government in an attempt to defeat and submit Indigenous tribes who resisted the takeover of their lands.

 

The species’ recovery began through the work of conservationists and Indigenous tribes throughout the 20th and 21st century. Protected land like Yellowstone National Park has led to the remarkable recovery of these animals, with numbers in the park growing from only two dozen in 1902 to 4500 in the park today. While conservation efforts have helped save the species from extinction, continued efforts are still needed.

 

This project was produced through the School of Communications, Media, and the Arts at Sacred Heart University.