American Bison Society facts for kids
The American Bison Society (ABS) was started in 1905 by people who cared a lot about nature. These "conservationists" included Ernest Harold Baynes, William Temple Hornaday, and even President Theodore Roosevelt. Their main goal was to save the bison from disappearing forever and to teach everyone about these amazing animals.
Long ago, over 40 million American bison (Bison bison) lived across North America, from Mexico to Canada. They roamed vast plains and grasslands. Their movements and grazing habits actually helped shape the land. But by the 1870s, their numbers had dropped dramatically. This happened because people were moving west and hunting too many bison. In 1889, a survey by William T. Hornaday showed that only about 1,000 bison were left in all of North America. This was a very small number compared to before.
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Saving the Bison: A Look Back
The American Bison Society was created specifically to stop the American bison from becoming extinct. They worked hard to bring bison back to the wild.
Bringing Bison Back to the Wild
In 1907, the ABS took 15 bison from the Bronx Zoo in New York. They shipped these bison by cart and train all the way to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. This was a very important moment! It was the first time animals were ever brought back to live in the wild in North America.
Creating Safe Homes for Bison
The ABS didn't stop there. In 1908, they asked the US government to create a permanent safe place for bison. This led to the establishment of the National Bison Range in Montana. The government agreed, but only if the ABS could raise $10,000 to buy the first bison for the new herd. The ABS raised even more money than needed! In 1909, these bison were set free on their new national range.
In 1913, the New York Zoological Society (which is now called the Wildlife Conservation Society) worked with the ABS. They gave 14 bison to Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. The ABS also helped start a bison herd at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska.
Because of all these efforts, there were finally secure groups of bison living in protected areas. The ABS felt their mission was complete, so the organization officially closed down in 1935.
The American Bison Society Returns
Many years later, in 2005, the American Bison Society was started again. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) brought it back. Their new goal is to make sure bison have a strong and healthy future in North America's ecosystems.
On August 12, 2010, the National Geographic magazine shared an update. It talked about the progress of the Wood Bison Recovery Program, which the WCS-North America also helps support.
