Bison to become U.S. national mammal

[left-of-center2012]

United States to adopt bison as national mammal
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Bison Legacy Act Tuesday to make the American bison the official national mammal, and the Senate is expected to follow later this week. Afterward, all that’s needed is President Obama’s John Hancock.

Under the bill, the first Saturday of November will be dubbed National Bison Day, giving conservationists a designated day to celebrate the animal and raise its profile among the general population.
To justify the newfound status, Congress listed, among many reasons, the historical use of bison as a symbol of the United States and the mammal’s links to the economic and spiritual lives of many Native American tribes.

Keith Aune, director of the bison conservation program for the Wildlife Conservation Society, said:
“We know they are a healthy red meat that’s low in cholesterol and high in omega-3s. There are commercial bison in all 50 states, privately owned for meat production,”

(How 'bout a nice Bison burger to help celebrate the occasion?)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-states-to-adopt-bison-as-national-mammal-221909930.html

[villager]

1. Any American who wants to keep eating red meat & imagines themselves serious about the environment

...should be ditching cows and eating bison.

[Svafa]

7. But they'd be MUCH better off ditching red meat altogether.

[villager]

9. There's that. But imagine the eco-benefits if all current cattle herds...

...were replaced with bison.

Of course, this would also need to be outside the "factory product" model.

[HuckleB]

17. It is interesting to note that back in the 20s and 30s, when National Wildlife Refuges were being...

... created, that the Fish and Wildlife Service created plans with cattle ranchers for their herds to graze on certain refuges, so as to mimic the part of the ecosystem that was missing with the disappearance of Bison. Those "partnerships" are still in place today.

[villager]

20. My understanding is that impact of "imported" cattle (i.e.which didn't evolve for these ecosystems)

...is far more destructive on wildlands -- in terms of overgrazing, impact on riparian soils, etc. -- than native Bison would be. Or are.

[HuckleB]

22. It could be, and is, in some areas, though the Wildlife Refuges do well regulating it, however.

The recovery of many birds species would seem to indicate that, any way. I'd still prefer to see bison out there, myself.

[haikugal]

2. Excellent! They are magnificent animals and I'm very fond of them. They have been as abused

As Native Americans by a cruel, unjust culture. Long live Bison!

[Coventina]

3. I approve of this choice.

There were other worthy candidates, but I am happy with this.

[immoderate]

4. People are mammals too!

Just sayin'

--imm

[Svafa]

8. Yeah,

but people suck. We don't deserve the recognition.

[2naSalit]

11. +1!

[PersonNumber503602]

5. So they're now considered the #1 tasty mammal?

I don't think I'd wanna be on that list.

[Takket]

6. No love for the kangaroo???????? come on!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sunlei]

10. "buffalo"? or beefalo?

[2naSalit]

13. Well, there is a difference...

beefalo are bison cross bred with cows. The only genetically pure bison are the herds in Yellowstone National Park. There are some, my neighbors in fact, who have been working on some kind of national recognition since the late 1980s.

This is great news for our bison, the ecosystem in which the live and future generations - so long as we don't make ourselves extinct in the next few decades.

We have the real ones around here and they have been abused by agencies sucking up our tax $$ (to the tune of $3million/year) to abuse them so the ranchers can feel safe even though there is no threat regardless of the misinformation widely distributed.

This is a long time in coming and a very hard fought battle. I approve!!

Just remember, when you come to Yellowstone or the Tetons, watch out for them, you cannot see them in your headlights and they are really smart.

For history on this issue, here's the web site of the folks who have been involved since the 1980s...

WARNING: some images at this site are horribly graphic but it is the raw truth of how these magnificent animals are treated with our tax$$s.

http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/

[yellowcanine]

12. Was anything else considered? I like bison but there would be other good candidates......

The North American beaver played an important role not only in native American culture but also in the early development of the country.

The black bear would have a claim as would the red fox, timber wolf, etc.

Do we need an official mammal at all? Seems kind of silly in a way.

Why don't we value all of them instead of celebrating the largest/most photogenic one?

I know I am being a curmudgeon here, but seriously, I think this is kind of stupid.

[2naSalit]

14. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense to some

however, it must be understood how this came about and why it is necessary. It's the best way to protect this species that has been under attack for over two centuries now.

Check it out:http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/

Some images are really graphic but the truth must be known. This is the culmination of a battle that has raged in my neck o' the woods since the 1980s.

[sarge43]

18. Canada has dibs on the beaver

The other animals you named can be found in many places around the world.

Like the bald eagle, the American buffalo, B. bison, is unique to North America.

[yellowcanine]

30. I am happy the bison is being recognized. But I get a little tired of how we focus on

the showiest animals and fail to educate people about other animals and plants which play significant roles in ecosystems. Then we have politicians screaming about "stopping progress" for a snail darter - or a beetle.

[braddy]

15. Probably a better choice than the Armadillo, besides, their image was hurt with them being connected

to Dracula and the fact that we made the giant armadillo extinct.

[img][/img]

[yellowcanine]

31. The little buggers carry leprosy also.

[ErikJ]

16. Now they need to establish a Bison National Park.

From the border f North Dakota t Texas and re-establish their former migratory patterns. My dream has always been to see tens of millions of bison migrating like they did before white man showed up.

[Demonaut]

19. this is merica, we call them buffalo....ever hear of Bison Bill?

Last edited Thu Apr 28, 2016, 11:35 AM - Edit history (1)

on edit...this was meant as a joke...that's why I used "merica"

[left-of-center2012]

23. "ever hear of Bison Bill?"

Calamity Joan's sidekick?

[pinboy3niner]

24. Or the Bison Soldiers?

[GummyBearz]

33. I don't get it. I have heard of bison burgers but never buffalo burgers

[yellowcanine]

34. Good reason to call them bison - "Buffalo Bill" was no friend.

Unless one considers killing them by the thousands for meat, with likely a lot of the meat wasted, as well as wasting the rest of the animal, unlike the Native Americans, who made good use of all parts of the animal.

[turbo_satan]

21. Hell, yeah!

Spot on.

[Blue_In_AK]

25. We now have wild wood bison in Alaska.

They're bigger than the plains bison and haven't lived in the wild for over 100 years.


Facebook post from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game

ADF&G Biologists spotted the first wild-bred, wild-born, wood bison calf in over a hundred years this week in the Lower Yukon/Innoko area. This monumental event is a milestone that marks the beginning of a viable, wild, and growing population of wood bison in the USA and Alaska. The stock used to reintroduce wood bison to Alaska had been in captivity over many generations (since 1957) in order to save this unique northern subspecies from extinction. Some people had doubts that the bison would become wild again and prosper in their old homelands after such a long time behind fences with supplemental food, water, and shelter.

Since their reintroduction in spring of 2015, the Alaska wood bison have shown that they are right at home along the lower Yukon, and as of this week, calves are being born and the population is growing with no input or assistance from humans. It was not without difficulty. In the first few months after release, some bison died as natural selection chose the strongest and culled the weakest. Now, the bison fit for life in the wild remain, and robust young calves will soon increase the population of the 130 that were released. This week marks the dawn of an era: the era of WILD wood bison conservation in the USA, with Alaska at the helm.

2 calves have been spotted to date. ADF&G is expecting about 30 new calves this year.

[think]

26. Tatanka

[Bayard]

27. A very appropriate choice

They are magnificent! Wonder if there's any chance of the plain's tribes starting to raise them for themselves, and for profit. Don't know if there's any decent grazing land left that isn't leased out to cattle ranchers.

I had a buffalo burger at a little restaurant in Sequoia National Park once. It was very lean, and quite tasty.

[MFM008]

28. now will the government

please quit rounding them up and slaughtering them??

[Kip Humphrey]

29. How fitting for a predator nation: celebrate the largest mammal in North America we almost succeeded

in making extinct.

[FSogol]

32. The Bison only won because the election was rigged and 1 million flying squirrels had their

registrations changed.