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Wisconsin Bison
American Environmental Photographs Collection, [AEP Image Number, e.g., AEP-MIN73], Department of Special Collections, University of Chicago Library
The American bison (B. bison), commonly known as the buffalo, or plains buffalo, is native to North America.
The great American bison is a truly magnificent animal. It is the largest land mammal in North America since the end of the Ice Age. Estimates of the pre-European herd size vary from 30,000,000 to 70,000,000 animals and they ranged over most of North America.
There are three subspecies of bison: the Plains bison, Wood bison, and the European Wisent.
Where bison and Native Americans lived together, the bison provided much more than food.
Unregulated killing of bison led to the many millions of animals being reduced to no more than 1,500 individuals in the mid to late 1800s.
Legal protection of the bison in Yellowstone Park, the establishment of preserves like the National Bison Refuge in Montana, along with individuals raising bison on their own land, have helped restore the bison to over 350,000 animals. ( Bison History from Bisoncentral.com)
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USZ62-110212]
Once hunted to the verge of extinction, Buffalo (or Bison) are beginning to make a come back in our day. A small but growing number of farmers and agriculturalists are taking Bison seriously. The Bison's unique attibutes and quality of their meat has been attracting more and more attention. There are individuals and groups in Wisconsin who are working hard to help make Bison a part of both our landscape and our diets once more.
Northwestern University Library, Edward S. Curtis's 'The North American Indian': the Photographic Images, 2001.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/ienhtml/curthome.htmlBuffalo have played a major part in the life of many of North America's indiginous peoples. All parts of the buffalo were used and these magnificent animals were understood to be a gift to the people. From Buffalo came food and clothing. Even bones and skulls were used and appreciated.
This understanding survives today. On August 20th, 1994 "Miracle", a white-buffalo calf was born to Dave, Valerie and Corey Heider near Janesville, WI. This event was viewed by many people practicing Native spiritual paths as a sign of great import. Thousands of people from all over the world 'pilgrimaged' to see Miracle. The 'chance' of a white buffalo being born is somewhere in the region of one in six billion.
Photo and following text courtesy of Miracles Website
[Miracle, the Sacred White Female Buffalo Calf, was born on the farm of Dave, Valerie, and Corey Heider during the morning of August 20, 1994. Not an albino, she is considered to be the first white buffalo calf born since 1933. Furthermore, she is extremely important to the religious beliefs of many American Indian tribes. The Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nations (known collectively as the Sioux) are considered her primary spiritual guardians and she plays a pivotal role in the fulfillment of their most revered prophecies. However, her place in the prophecies and beliefs of many tribes make her a highly sacred symbol to many of the American Indian Nations across the continent. She is seen by a vast number of people as a symbol of hope and renewal for humanity and for harmony between all peoples, all races, in our world today. Read more from White Buffalo Miracle Website.]
Buffalo has attracted interest by farmers trying to find their way in a agricultural economy that is in rough times. An interesting website to explore is the Rocky Ridge Bison Farm, LLC. which is located near Elroy, WI.
This picture courtesty of Rocky Ridge Bison Farm, LLC
Also check out the Ho-Chunk Nations Bison Ranch Website
