American Bison: Are Buffalo Extinct?

Vast herds of American bison once roamed the Great Plains of the United States. However, those huge herds are now a thing of the past. American bison were killed en masse in the 19^th century, with thousands of these animals slaughtered for their meat. But, did the American bison survive this? Are buffalo extinct? Let’s find out!

Are Buffalo the Same as Bison?

Before we explore whether buffalo are extinct, we need to clarify a common misconception. The terms buffalo and bison are used interchangeably in North America to describe the American bison. However, buffalo and bison are not actually the same animal.

Buffalo actually live only in Asia and Africa. They are known as the water buffalo and the cape buffalo. Any buffalo that exists in Europe or America are bison. American settlers are most likely to blame for the word confusion that exists in North America today.

Are Buffalo Extinct?

Buffalo are not extinct. However, they almost went extinct. The American bison is currently listed as Near Threatened because its population has rebounded enough to bring it back from the brink of extinction.

There are approximately 15,000 wild American bison in the United States, with 5,000 of them living in Yellowstone National Park. Before Europeans began hunting them, their numbers hovered around 30 to 60 million. There are also around 530,000 bison on protected land in private herds. 

Despite conservation efforts, less than 1% of the population of American bison has been restored to the wild. 95% of the American bison alive today belong to private land owners and breeders.

Yellowstone National Park is one of the few places where bison have lived continuously since prehistory. Nevertheless, American bison can now be found in all 50 states. They are scattered across Indigenous lands, refuges, private herds, and national parks.

American bison are the largest mammals in North America. They can weigh up to a few tons, stand up to six feet tall, and move at speeds of up to 35 mph. They roam, grazing on grass and other foliage for up to 11 hours per day.

Why Did the American Buffalo Almost Go Extinct?

American bison almost went extinct because their hides and tongues were valuable. They were also slaughtered to help subdue native tribes by eliminating their food source.

Hunters almost killed all of the buffalo in America. Without the existence of the newly functioning railroads, this mass slaughter would not have been possible.

By 1884, railroads were well established and effectively transported goods in America. One of the products that found itself in high demand was buffalo hides. Hunters began meeting this demand, and about five million buffalo were killed by 1887.

Buffalo were mistreated so greatly that there were train expeditions just to decimate the herds. Trains would locate a herd near the tracks, slow down, and allow passengers to hunt buffalo for sport.

Activities like this reduced the herds to less than 600 individuals before attitudes toward the American bison began to change. The remaining buffalo were in Yellowstone National Park, so it was declared that no animal could be killed within the park. This saved the herd of American bison.

Will American Buffalo Go Extinct?

Thankfully, the American bison will probably not go extinct. That’s because conservation efforts have established stable populations.

There are still concerns, however, because the herds are no longer free-ranging in the vast territories they enjoyed historically. This is due to the development of their entire range.

This causes the segregation of populations from others, which limits genetic diversity and encourages inbreeding. Too much inbreeding compromises the health of a herd.

Are Buffalo Considered Cattle?

No, buffalo are not cattle. Cattle are cows. Cattle and buffalo can be crossbred, resulting in animals known as beefalo. To save the herd after the great slaughter, some ranchers captured buffalo from the small remaining herd and bred them with cattle to sustain the population.

Only females were fertile though, and the practice was soon abandoned. Today, the remnants of cattle genetics left in herds are being bred out. However, the only wild buffalo with no trace of cow genetics are found in Yellowstone National Park.

Indigenous Americans and Buffalo

Indigenous Americans never domesticated wild buffalo. For thousands of years, buffalo created trails across the landscape that were later used as human paths. These trails were adopted by Europeans who came to the continent.

Not only were tourists on the railways and hunters killing buffalo, but the US government was also systematically exterminating the herd so they could win the Indian Wars against the Plains Indians. It worked, and most indigenous Americans were sequestered on reservations.

Buffalo were an integral food source to Plains Indian tribes as well as a spiritual powerhouse in many tribal religions across their range. When American bison began being slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands per year, native tribes were helpless to defend the herd.

What is a White Buffalo?

White buffalo are rare white-haired calves that occur naturally for a variety of reasons. They are spiritually significant to various indigenous tribes and occur only once in every 10 million calves. Their rarity makes them special.

White Buffalo Calf Woman is a sacred prophet for the Lakota and other tribes. It is believed she will return to earth as a white buffalo and bring about change.

Do People Still Eat Bison?

Yes, people still eat bison. American bison can be raised on private land as a meat animal, and regulated wild hunting is allowed in Alaska, Utah, Arizona, Montana, and Wyoming.

Its lean red meat has a richer flavor compared to beef. This deeper taste is caused by the high iron content. There is 40% more protein and fewer calories in a serving of bison as compared to beef. It’s prepared the way beef is and is easily substituted for beef in recipes.