Is it possible for brawny, shaggy ungulates, that might tip the scale at one to two tons, to appear and amble gracefully? The answer is a resounding “yes.” Amble they may, and docile they may appear, but don’t be fooled, for this largest land mammal in North America is able to accelerate to 35 mph, and a direct hit would be injurious at best, deadly at worst.
It seemed fitting to follow last week’s post, “[Dis]information,” with one about these iconic creatures, which signified the difference between life and death for countless Native American tribes, representing not merely symbols of spiritual significance, but also food, clothing, and shelter. An estimated 30 to 60 (possibly as many as 90) million American Bison roamed the North American continent for millennia, until they became the target of Euro-Americans, who initially also hunted them for their meat and hides, but eventually killed them for “sport” out of moving trains, and out of sheer spite, to deprive those First Americans of their livelihood. Left to rot, they became a symbol of the cruelty and arrogance with which those new arrivals settled and exploited the land that’s now beyond the brink of ecological disaster. When the “conquerors” were done with their dirty work, which took mere decades, only a few hundred of these remarkable beasts survived at the turn of the 20th century.
Ist es möglich, daß bullige und zottelige Huftiere, die bis zu zwei Tonnen wiegen, anmutig erscheinen und schlendern können? Die Antwort lautet eindeutig: „Ja“. Auch wenn sie schlendern mögen und sanft erscheinen, laß Dich nicht täuschen, denn dieses größte Landsäugetier Nordamerikas kann bis auf 55 Km/h beschleunigen, und ein direkter Zusammenprall wäre im besten Fall mit Verletzungen, und im schlimmsten mit dem Tod verbunden.
Es schien mir passend, dem „[Dis]information” Beitrag von letzter Woche diesen folgen zu lassen, weil diese Kreaturen Kultstatus haben, und den Unterschied zwischen Leben und Tod für zahllose Indianerstämme bedeuteten, da sie nicht nur spirituelle Symbole repräsentierten, sondern auch Nahrung, Kleidung und Unterkunft. Geschätzte 30 bis 60 (wenn nicht sogar 90 ) Millionen amerikanische Bisons durchstreiften den nordamerikanischen Kontinent über Jahrtausende hinweg, bis sie zur Schießscheibe von Euro-Amerikanern wurden. Anfangs wurden sie auch von diesen der Felle und des Fleisches wegen gejagt, aber zunehmend zum Zeitvertreib und aus Boshaftigheit, um den Uramerikanern die Lebensgrundlage zu entziehen. Dem Verrotten überlassen, wurden sie zu Symbolen der Grausamkeit und Arroganz, mit der die Neuankömmlinge das Land besiedelten und ausbeuteten, das inzwischen jenseits des ökologischen Abgrunds steht. Nachdem die „Eroberer“ mit ihren Schandtaten fertig waren, was bloße Jahrzehnte brauchte, waren nur noch wenige Hundert dieser bemerkenswerten Tiere am Leben.
Unlike the hapless Passenger Pigeon, whose gazillion wings once darkened the sky for days during migration, the bison was brought back from the precipice, with numbers now amounting to about 500,000. As most survivors were interbred with cattle, and only a small quantity of genetically pure individuals survived at Yellowstone and a few other locations, it is estimated that all but 1.6% of bison today are hybrids. While some parks and preserves are home to publicly-owned herds, most of them are raised by private owners for human consumption, as their meat is leaner and supposedly healthier than beef.
Though commonly called buffalo, American Bison (Bison bison) are only distantly related to the true Asian water or African buffaloes. There are two extant subspecies, the Plains Bison (Bison bison bison), and the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae). As several of the former are bred in Colorado, my husband and I occasionally encounter them, as we did this small South Park group during one of our leaf-peeping trips.
Anders als die unglückseligen Wandertauben, deren zig Millionen Schwingen einst während ihrer Züge tagelang den Himmel verdunkelten, kamen die Bisons vom Abgrund zurück, und beziffern sich heutzutage auf etwa 500.000. Da die meisten Überlebenden mit Rindern gekreuzt wurden, und nur eine kleine Anzahl genetisch reiner Individuen in Yellowstone und anderen Gegenden überlebte, wird angenommen, daß lediglich 1,6% aller Bisons heutzutage keine Mischformen darstellen. Es gibt einige Parks und Naturschutzgebiete mit öffentlichen Herden, doch die Mehrheit befindet sich in Privatbesitz, und ist für den menschlichen Verzehr bestimmt, da ihr Fleisch fettarmer ist, und angeblich gesünder als Rindfleisch sein soll.
Auch wenn sie häufig als Büffel bezeichnet werden sind amerikanische Bisons (Bison bison) nur entfernt mit asiatischen Wasserbüffeln oder afrikanischen Büffeln verwandt. Zwei Unterarten existieren noch, die der Prärie (Bison bison bison), und die des Waldes (Bison bison athabascae). Erstere werden häufiger in Colorado gezüchtet, wo mein Mann und ich sie gelegentlich zu Gesicht bekommen, wie z. B. diese kleine Herde in South Park während eine unserer Exkursionen zum Blättergucken.
Were it not for the fences, one could easily imagine how thousands of these herbivorous hulks stirred up dust clouds that were visible from miles away, when following their seasonal migration across the plains, in search of fresh expanses of grass to nibble on, thereby avoiding overgrazing, while simultaneously plowing and fertilizing the soil, which thus thrived for eons, until so-called civilized man in his hubris thought he could improve on nature, and brought on not only the Dust Bowl, but numerous ecological calamities since then.
To acknowledge the renewed awe and admiration for the bison, it was named a national symbol of the United States in 2016, only the second animal to be thus distinguished, after the Bald Eagle was declared National Bird in 1782! As I recently learned from a fellow blogger (National Parks USA), the first Saturday of November has been chosen as National Bison Day in the US, which fell on November 2 this year. For this reason, Happy Belated National Bison Day!
Gäbe es keine Zäune, wäre es leicht vorstellbar, wie Tausende dieser pflanzenfressenden Hünen Staubwolken aufwirbelten, die meilenweit während ihrer Wanderungen über die Plains zu sehen waren, bei denen sie nach neuen Grasflächen suchten, und dabei Überweidung vermieden, und gleichzeitig die Böden umpflügten und düngten. Auf diese Weise gediehen sie über viele Zeitalter hinweg, bis der sogenannte zivilisierte Mensch in seiner Überheblichkeit daherkam, und es der Natur besser zeigen wollte, und dadurch den “Dust Bowl ” sowie weitere ökologische Katastrophen seither verursachte.
Um die erneute Ehrfurcht und Bewunderung für dieses Tier zum Ausdruck zu bringen, wurde es 2016 zum nationalen Symbol der USA auserkoren. Diese Auszeichnung kam zuvor nur dem weißköpfigen Seeadler zuteil, der 1782 (!) zum Nationalvogel erklärt wurde. Wie ich erst vor kurzem von einer weiteren Bloggerin lernte (National Parks USA), wird der erste Samstag im November als Nationaler Bisontag gefeiert, der dieses Jahr auf den 2. November fiel. Aus diesem Grunde, wenn auch etwas verspätet, „Happy Bison Day!”
My kind regards and best wishes to the amazing bison!
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Thank you, Liz. May our good wishes benefit not only the bison, but all the other plant and animal species threatened by our destructive ways.
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Warum erstaunt mich dein Bericht nicht?
Gibt es irgendetwas, was der Mensch nicht zerstört?
Zum Glück gibt es Ausnahmen und einige wenige Menschen setzen sich für die geschundene Natur ein.
Danke für deine Hommage,
liebe Grüße, Brigitte
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Ich weiß, liebe Brigitte, es ist so furchtbar deprimierend. Ich hoffe, daß wir noch weitere Kreaturen vom Rand des Abgrunds zurückbringen können.
Sei herzlich gegrüßt,
Tanja
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beeindruckende tiere und danke für die vielen hintergrundinfos zu deren situation, einst und jetzt. happy bison day verspätet dann auch von mir. auf dass sie weiterhin wohl gedeihen mögen. liebe grüße!
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Ich danke Dir für Deinen Besuch und Kommentar. Ich teile Deine guten Wünsche für die Zukunft dieser eindrucksvollen Tiere.
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The scientific name Bison bison bison amuses me me me.
It may well be that any ethnic group of humans has a similar potential for annihilating animal species. The Polynesians who settled in New Zealand seven to eight centuries ago are now believed to have hunted the moa birds to extinction:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/03/why-did-new-zealands-moas-go-extinct
Some scientists believe that humans who colonized North America after the last ice age were at least partly responsible for the extinction of woolly mammoths:
https://tinyurl.com/sfgbgfh
By the 19th century, human populations had become so large and their weapons so effective that the extinction of the passenger pigeon and near-extinction of the bison happened in a matter of decades rather than over centuries or millennia.
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We could add countless other species to this heartbreaking litany, Steve. I don’t know how do deal with my disenchantment and cynicism about humankind. It makes me sick to see how cavalierly we cross out one species after the other from the cast of wonderful earth characters.
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What a sickening story of destruction! Glad they have made a comeback, even if they are hybrids.
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(Wo)mankind’s path is scattered with skeletons, Laurie. It is sickening, and so very sad. I’m glad, too, that at least one species was saved from extinction.
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Yes! Other species, too. In Maine, when I was young, it was rare to see a bald eagle. I don’t recall every seeing one. When DDT was banned, they made a stunning comeback. Now, it is not unusual to see them, especially by the Kennebec River, about ten miles from my home.
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Nature is so resilient, if we only give it a chance, DDT and birds is a great example. I think in some ways that problem was more straightforward than what we are facing now, because there are attacks on life on multiple levels, and across continents. I truly hope that we can still reverse some of the damage.
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Yes, so true! Sigh.
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Man’s cruelty to man and other species can’t be overstated.
I didn’t know that today’s bison are hybrids.
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Sadly, your statement is true, Neil. I don’t know what it will take for us to change-maybe it’s impossible. 😪
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Wundervolle sanfte Riesen 💚
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Jedenfalls meistens! Ich würde ihnen nicht gerne begegnen, wenn sie erregt sind! 😊
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Two, if not three, of our prairie preserves here in Illinois, now proudly boast bison herds. I went to a presentation about the program to obtain them. They went to great lengths to get pure bison and I believe there is an effort to exchange breeding males to keep genetic diversity as high as possible. As you mention, they are vey beneficial to the health of the prairie, which is hard to imagine when you see these bulky creatures trampling and wallowing about! It is very exciting to see them on the landscape once again, albeit behind fences. We also have a couple of domestic herds that are raised for food.
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I’m glad to hear of the successful re-introduction of bison into Illinois, Melissa. In vain I try to imagine what it must have looked like to see thousands, if not more, of them, walking or running across the prairie.
Thank you for your comment.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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it’s better to stay away from bison!
bye dearest 🙂
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You are correct, it’s best to watch them from a safe distance.
I thank you and wish you a good week.
Tanja
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Tolle Fotos und viele erhellende Informationen, wie schön, dass wir immer dabei sein dürfen, wenn Ihr durch die Natur streift – noch mal ganz herzlichen Dank dafür!
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Vielen Dank, liebe Ira. Es freut mich sehr, daß Du uns auf unseren Reisen begleitest.
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They always make me stop and look in awe. So impressive😊
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Same here, Dwight. Thank you!
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Great post about an magnificent animal. Our encounters with them in Yellowstone have been awe-inspiring.
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Thank you, Mr. P. We, too, were very inspired by our encounter with the Yellowstone herd. It is wonderful to see them roam free.
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We had them walk right past us several times while we were in Yellowstone. Incredible! Of course we were in our vehicle but the herd just slowly moved passed us within 6-8 ft.
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That’s great. I remember similarly impressive encounters!
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Did you see my post “traffic jam”? That has the video of one of those moments.
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Just did! Thank you!
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Hello Tanja,
Thank you for sharing the tragic history of this beautiful and iconic animal. Words can’t express how our species as caused so much damage (to each other, to this planet and our wildlife) during such a short time span…
I hope you and your husband are doing well.
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Thank you for your insightful comment, Takami. I find it extremely disheartening to learn of all the plants and animals that are threatened or endangered because of our actions, and I fear that, even though we are paying lip service to wanting change, nothing substantial happens. All the talk about trying to stabilize our climate is decades too late, even if we implemented all the recommended changes NOW, which is not happening. 😪
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Da bin ich durch deinen lieben Kommentar auf deinen hochinteressanten Blog gestoßen. Vielen Dank für die Information über die Büffel. Ich wusste gar nicht, dass sie sich mit Rindern kreuzen lassen. Liebe Grüße aus Kanada!
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Dankeschön, lieber Peter. Das mit der Kreuzung war mir auch nicht bewußt, bis ich mich etwas belesen habe. Erkennen kann das äußerlich vielleicht nur die Fachperson.
Liebe Grüße zurück aus Colorado,
Tanja
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[…] Tanja Britton erinnert an die Geschichte des amerikanischen Bisons. […]
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Dankeschön, liebe Anna! 🌼
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Thanks for the mention 😊
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Thank you for pointing out the existence of the holiday! 🌸
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Wie sieht der Boden da aus? Völlige Übervölkerung in Zaunhaltung?
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Ja, der Boden da sieht schlimm aus, das habe ich auch gedacht. Diese kleine Herde lebt in South Park, einer sehr trockenen und windigen Gegend Colorados, und die Herde wird wahrscheinlich nicht rotiert. Ich gehe davon aus, daß sie regelmäßig gefüttert wird.
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I love the bison, but I love human beings, too, and one thing that is striking about humans is that we are capable of change. The importance of even a single individual in turning the tide of history is illustrated beautifully in the story of Mary Ann Goodnight, whose rescue of two bison calves led to the establishment of one of the last pure bison herds in the United States. It roams over 15,000 acres surrounding Caprock Canyon in Texas, after being donated to Texas Parks and Wildlife in 1996 for continued care and protection in their natural setting.
One of my treasured souvenirs is a hank of bison hair, pulled off an animal by one of their caretakers at the Tallgrass prairie in Kansas. By sheer chance, I ended up riding across the prairie with him, and coming almost literally nose to nose with some of these fabulous creatures. There are some photos here.
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Thank you for your comment, Linda. Your view of humans is better than mine. There are many examples of positive changes brought on by individuals, but humankind as a whole might be beyond redemption. I happen to be one of those people who believe that the earth would be better off without us.
I don’t necessarily like my attitude, but I see nothing that convinces me that we care enough about other creature and our planet to make true and lasting changes.
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I guess we’re going to have to disagree on that one, since I’m a firm believer in redemption!
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I actually hope that your notion is the one that will prevail, Linda.
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I hope so, too. In the meantime, I do think you’ll enjoy this video that a friend made on the Tallgrass prairie. Those calves are adorable.
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Amazing, Linda. Kudos to your friend for filming this. And thank you for sharing. 😊
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It was great to see them thriving in Yellowstone. I’ve seen them several times in Texas. Ross Perot Jr has brought them back in Dallas/Ft Worth area.
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The Yellowstone herd is likely one of the best known, and maybe the only chance for many people to see wild bison.
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Bisons are so American. Your share is a perfect tribute to America’s beginnings and for the Thanksgiving celebration. Have a joyful holiday season Tanja! Cheers!💕❤️
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Thank you for your comment. I wish you a happy holiday season as well.
Best,
Tanja
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I have never seen Bison in the wild. Those would be magnificent!
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They are, Diane. Maybe you will see them at Yellowstone one of these days, that is where many people have their most memorable encounters.
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When my husband retires we want to take a train vacation there so fingers crossed!
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I hope it will work out! 😊
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sehr informativer Beitrag liebe Tanja, schönen Gruß von der Nordsee bei Husum! 🌷
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Das freut mich sehr Herzlichen Dank für den netten Kommentar, und liebe Grüße zurück aus Colorado nach Husum.
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