Bison are Making a Comeback

Bison are Making a Comeback. . , Once revered as the symbol of the American West, the bison have come back from the brink of extinction. Currently, there are over 350,000 bison in public and private herds across North America., Organizations like the National Buffalo Foundation are key in the continued preservation of the species. They inform the public about the importance of bison through partnerships between producers and consumers. This relationship not only celebrates the heritage of the species, but it creates a strong future for the bison industry., Bison is North America's Original Red Meat , Bison meat is perhaps the most common product marketed by the bison industry. Compared to other meat sources, bison is low in fat and contains more protein and nutrients. With fewer calories, it is a healthy alternative. Furthermore, bison meat is dense, which tends to satisfy more while eating less., Photo captions: The United States consumes around one million pounds of bison meat each month. For many years, diners and upscale restaurants from coast to coast have offered "buffalo" burgers and steaks as main entrées., Bison and beef have a similar taste, but there is a difference. For this reason, bison has slowly become more common on grills in backyards across the country., Park Herds Attract Attention and Tourism , Visitors from across the country and around the world flock to western parks in order to witness bison in their natural habitat. Places like Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming), National Bison Range (Montana), Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota), and Custer State Park serve the local visitor industry by providing bison viewing areas. This type of tourism attraction is another part of economic growth., Photo captions: With a backdrop of natural features and rich cultural history, bison add to the scenery in many parks across the country. Their presence blends into the surroundings and complements the beauty of the landscape., Some public parks and refuges, like Custer State Park, attract millions of visitors each year to witness bison along scenic byways., Hollywood Even Protects the Species , Past and present movies have captured bison on screen and provoked the audience to value the species. The films often portray America's frontier in the late 1800s. From Plains Indians to market hunters, they have all been shown with bison as the central theme. The productions entertain and educate the public about our nation's heritage., Photo captions: Dances with Wolves (1990) is perhaps the most famous movie for presenting bison and their kinship to America's past. Winning 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Kevin Costner captured the story of the species during our nation's infancy., Custer State Park has served as a movie set for several productions. The Last Hunt (1955) and How the West was Won (1961) used the park's bison herd for a few staged scenes.