It’s been named the National Bison Legacy Act.

Interestingly, last Friday, May 25th, 2012, I was sitting and looking out over the great plains of the west, in Wyoming to be exact. I could see both bison and wind turbines in the distance. When I heard the news, I asked Mom what all the hullaballoo was about, bison being elevated to a position of prominence. She explained a campaign had burst forth to Vote Bison!

So here it is, your chance to send your Senators the message; it’s time to select this incredible animal to join the bald eagle as a symbol of the United States. Seems numerous Western lawmakers want to make the wild Plains bison more notable, a no-brainy to me. If you have concerns, no one is extending “special rights” to this epic species, no new protections, just added national prestige. Honestly, I believe these icons of America deserve more.

To be clear, we are talking wild bison, today estimated at about 20,000 in North America; it is likely about another half million exist in commercial herds. At the peak of the North American bison’s presence, nearly sixty million tramped from Mexico to Canada. When Teddy Roosevelt was prez (he was a devoted hunter and preservationist), he got involved to save the “mighty” species from destruction. In the early 1900’s seems only about a thousand remained, they had been hunted to nearly extinction. Are you shocked? The bison have been described as the “thunder of the plains;” pin your ears back (scroll down a bit) for this sound bite.

In my neck of the woods, just west of Denver lives a herd of bison; they belong to the City and County of Denver. They are (according to the Jefferson County historical commission report) “descendants of 7 of the remaining wild animals found in Yellowstone National Park in 1914.” So when I need my bison-fix this is where we go, photo below.

Ah, don’t forget, Vote Bison!

Baby Bison Denver Herd; Photo Credit D. Raso