Durham Ranch - A brief history

Durham Ranch

Is it buffalo or bison?
The American Buffalo is not a true buffalo.
Its closest relatives are the European Bison,
or Wisent, and the Canadian Woods Bison,
not the buffalo of Asia or Africa, such as the
Cape Buffalo or Water Buffalo. Scientifically,
the American Buffalo is named Bison and belongs
to the Bovidae family of mammals, as do domestic
cattle. Because our history has so ingrained in us
the name "buffalo," we still use it, although
"bison" and "buffalo" are used interchangeably. *

A brief history
Bison once roamed the plains in numbers so
great that early explorers could not count
them. They were variously described as:
"numbers-numberless," "the country was one
black robe," and "the plains were black and
appeared as if in motion."

The bison has been called the most important
wild animal in the development of North America.

They were the center of life of the Plains Indians,
providing them with food, clothing, shelter, and
much of their culture. Bison also sustained the
lives of the explorers and settlers going West.

By the late 1800's, bison were dangerously close
to extinction. Through efforts of early
conservationists and ranchers who knew the value
of bison, they are no longer an endangered species.
Bison are again a central part of the lives of
some Americans, and their numbers have increased
to over 300,000 in public and private herds in
North America. *

* Reprinted with permission from a brochure by the
National Bison Association entitled Why Eat Bison?

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