Bison burger

On May 9, 2016, President Obama signed the National Bison Legacy Act into law, officially making the American bison the national mammal of bison burger United States. This majestic animal joins the ranks of the bald eagle as the official symbol of our country—and much like the eagle, it’s one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time. In prehistoric times, millions of bison roamed North America—from the forests of Alaska and the grasslands of Mexico to Nevada’s Great Basin and the eastern Appalachian Mountains. Explore more fun facts about the American bison.

More than 10,000 bison, including this one in Grand Teton National Park, live on public lands managed by the Department of the Interior. Bison are the largest mammal in North America. 1,000 pounds and reach a height of 4-5 feet. Since the late 19th century, Interior has been the primary national conservation steward of the bison. What’s the difference between bison and buffalo? While bison and buffalo are used interchangeably, in North America the scientific name is bison.

Historians believe that the term “buffalo” grew from the French word for beef, “boeuf. Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the U. As of July 2015, Yellowstone’s bison population was estimated at 4,900—making it the largest bison population on public lands. After a few months, their hair starts to change to dark brown and their characteristic shoulder hump and horns begin to grow. The history of bison and Native Americans are intertwined. Bison have been integral to tribal culture, providing them with food, clothing, fuel, tools, shelter and spiritual value.

Inter Tribal Buffalo Council works with the National Park Service to transfer bison from national park lands to tribal lands. You can judge a bison’s mood by its tail. When it hangs down and switches naturally, the bison is usually calm. If the tail is standing straight up, watch out!

It may be ready to charge. No matter what a bison’s tail is doing, remember that they are unpredictable and can charge at any moment. Every year, there are regrettable accidents caused by people getting too close to these massive animals. It’s great to love the bison, but love them from a distance. Wind Cave National Park’s herd helped revive bison populations around the country. By 1913, the American Bison Society had enough bison to restore a free-ranging bison herd.