The American Bison II

More accurately called bison today, it is believed that buffalo crossed over a land bridge that once connected the Asian and North American... more

by David and Carol Kelly

Title

The American Bison II

Artist

David and Carol Kelly

Medium

Photograph - Photograph/digital

Description

More accurately called bison today, it is believed that buffalo crossed over a land bridge that once connected the Asian and North American continents. Through the centuries buffalo slowly moved southward, eventually reaching as far as Mexico and as far east as the Atlantic Coast, extending south to Florida. But, the largest herds were found on the plains and prairies, from the Rocky Mountains east to the Mississippi River, and from Great Slave Lake in Canada to Texas.

By 1800, the small buffalo herds east of the Mississippi River were gone. Buffalo may have been killed to protect livestock and farmlands in that region. With westward expansion the systematic reduction of the plains herds began around 1830, when buffalo hunting became the chief industry of the plains. Organized groups of hunters killed buffalo for hides and meat, often killing up to 250 buffalo a day. Many private herds have boosted the buffalo's overall population over the years. While the present herds, numbering about 200,000 are not as large as the great herds that once ranged the North American continent, they are large enough to ensure the continued well-being of the American buffalo for generations to come.

Uploaded

October 8th, 2015