The American Bison: From Millions to Near Extinction

This video is about American Bison, also known as the Buffalo. At one point the American Bison's population was well in the millions but for a variety of reason which is discussed in this video, their population dropped to less than 1000.
Social Media
------------------------
Map Shop - zacksmapshop.com/
Twitter - / zackfleming
Instagram - / thegeographygeek
Sources
------
www.bbc.com/ear...
www.futurity.o...
americanwildho...
www.blm.gov/pr...
www.tsln.com/n...
www.nytimes.co...
history.msu.ed...
www.mtpr.org/p...
www.businessin...
www.smithsonia...
www.jstor.org/...
www.pnas.org/c...
Books
-----
“The American Serengeti” by Dan Flores
“The Extermination of the American Bison” by William T. Hornaday

[@Beginnerreadsthebible]

The murder of the bison was absolutely used as a tactic in the genocide against native peoples.

[@thomasfoss9963]

You bet-- Sheridan recognized how reliant the plains tribes were to the bison, and set out to destroy the herds long before the transcontinental rail lines were finished, as a method to starve native people, and to ultimately subjacate the tribes----

[@harrylewis4430]

As an American I can say we were natzis before natzis

[@comptonboodhoo6504]

Ignorance can be a burden some carry throughout life. You owe it to yourself to get educated and learn history. Bison numbers were decimated by the fur hunters in pursuit of fur, one bison fur was worth $50.00 in mid 1800s. They were killed in large numbers for the fur trade until the us government stopped the killing .

[@smonKey0909]

Buffalo = Native Indian .... imagine what happened next

[@cunderw12]

The poor Bison is a prisoner to America. We don’t let these animals be Bison. I feel like we don’t treat any other animal like we treat the Bison. It’s so sad.

[@thomasfoss9963]

Well, You could start with the wolf, and the coyote----

[@MargoGuryanFan1]

Just found you, and you uploaded a new video. Excited to dig into your account.

[@finchmeister1504]

Found You’re channel few days ago and I love it. keep at it man!

[@GeographyGeek]

Glad you’re here! Thank you!!

[@WyomingTraveler]

I also found your channel a few days ago. As a former geography teacher I like the channel in general. Geography is the overlook discipline in the study of history, economics, and politics. The bison is my favorite animal I love them. I enjoyed this video because it gave a clear an objective viewpoint to the rapid decline of the buffalo. You presented many facts that contributed to the decline other than just overhunting. It is also evident that you did a great deal of research on this topic. Congratulations on a job well done.

[@GeographyGeek]

Sorry, I am so late replying to this. I used to teach geography myself! I appreciate the kind words.

[@WyomingTraveler]

@@GeographyGeek no need to apologize, you respond, which many creators do not, I appreciate that. Where did you teach?

[@GeographyGeek]

@@WyomingTraveler I taught in Henry Coutny, Virginia for 3 years. 8th Grade Global Geography & Cultures.

[@xXx_Baba-Smoker_xXx]

nice video! so sad how they went from millions to nearly non-existent, glad they're kinda back now!

[@decem_sagittae]

If only we would bring back the aurochs in Europe

[@Fish-pi8lv]

There’s still some huge herds in Yellowstone. I’ve seen videos with hundreds of them

[@__Timmerman__]

Love your videos!

[@GeographyGeek]

Thank you!!

[@danielvh5933]

Me too

[@richardelliott9511]

I have always heard that it wasn't the Buffalo robe market that was the biggest contribution to their demise but the demand for their superior leather as drive belts for the machinery of the industrial revolution. I would like to hear more on this whole subject. Especially the population estimates, both when and how they were calculated. Your statement about the effects of the Little Ice age on their population is one that I have never heard before and would like to see an expansion on that aspect. Ihave just recently discovered your channel and am enjoying it immensely. Thanks

[@GeographyGeek]

I appreciate it! This was one of my favorite videos to research and make but it’s one of my least watched videos. I had planned on making a part two but never did due to the low popularity. I still may end up doing it though. It’s been awhile since I made this video so I can’t remember off of the top of my head the details behind the statistics but my biggest source of information for this video was “American Serengeti” by Dan Flores. I believe what you stated about the leather was briefly mentioned and I left it out. It was a great book on not just the extermination of the Bison but other animals in the plains as well. The “Extermination of the American Bison” is a good read as well and has some historical significance but it is probably considered a little outdated at this point. I hope that helps.

[@richardelliott9511]

@@GeographyGeek thanks, I have just ordered it the book.

[@dutchman7623]

@@GeographyGeek Do not be guided by popularity, but by your own curiosity. That leads to high quality, and appreciation. And your own satisfaction.

[@GeographyGeek]

@@dutchman7623 True. My interests are kind of broad so I just moved on to another topic I was interested in but I have played with the idea of having a more conservation / National Park focus in a podcast form to get my fix for those types of topics. I haven’t decided yet. I haven’t made it out of the planning phase yet.

[@freethinker192]

Nicely worded

[@jamess5415]

Almost seems like the presence of the bison is what helped europeans expand westwards in the late 1700 early-mid 1800s

[@Fish-pi8lv]

No it was really the promise of gold and pristine farm land

[@decem_sagittae]

Excellent video. I'm glad I found your channel.

[@ramzankadyrov6035]

Just because bills were passed doesn’t mean people followed it. Just like today.

[@ls93780]

That makes a whole lot of sense how so many other factors could’ve contributed in addition to overhunting. Overhunting alone wouldn’t explain Canada.

[@BruceDamvan]

Great channel man de groeten uit Holland 🇳🇱

[@Heptad]

Looking forward to that next video. 💚

[@Derek-fq4xo]

The Native Americans flourish off of mainly the buffalo for hundreds if not thousands of years while maintaining or even growing the buffalo population , .. yet within 100 years of the European explorers colonizing america the entire species of american buffalo was nearly extinct 😢

[@JRESHOW]

Such sad story.

[@quinceywilliams4450]

What happened to the methane then?

[@RLaraMoore]

There are many species of animals endangered now that we must attend to saving. Elephants, tigers, giraffes, rhinoceros, pangolins, painted dogs, cheetahs.... etc etc etc

[@farouk7336]

Don't forget humans.

[@gypsylake5164]

The narrator avoids giving responsibility for the near extinction of the buffalo to where it belongs, white settlement on Indian land and the U. S. government policy of Indian extermination, and exterminating the buffalo aided in that goal.

[@jimc4839]

The bison might as well be extinct. They don't get to roam free and migrate. It's a sad tragic story. The cattle industry is too stupid to realize it's cheaper and easier to raise bison than cattle. Bison is also healthier to eat.

[@AckzaTV]

We're they dangerous to someone just walking around them?

[@GeographyGeek]

They can be. If you stay at least 20 yards away they won't bother you but if you get too close it's not uncommon for them to charge and gore people.

[@ramzankadyrov6035]

They will absolutely trample you if you get close enough. If they feel you’re threatening they will kill you. If you let them be though, they’re fairly docile.

[@mplsmark222]

Every summer foolish people get gored by bison in the national and state parks. The cows tend to stay together in groups with their calves. The bulls are solitary, they wonder off and can be found in weird places. The cows are quite protective and will moan, growl to warn people to stay away. Bulls can seem quite docile, that’s why people think it’s ok to approach. I have a relative that lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The first time I visited the main piece of advice he gave me, with a stern voice he said, “leave the bison alone”.

[@dodobird9679]

We need a video about the extinction of dodo birds

[@dodobird9679]

Dodo birb

[@donovian2538]

"Settle down to civilized life" Hoo boy, yikes that is some phrasing

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

Our history truly is dark and shameful. And our species continues to threaten wildlife to this day, with no end in sight.

[@farouk7336]

White Mans history is shameful. How anything survived only God knows, cause they were trying to kill off everything.

[@benjaminrush4443]

Thanks.

[@RandyStIves]

Na dpeoplenwondsr why there's so many storms and earthquakes. We destroyed the flow of currency of nature with man made currencies of electricity, money, gas.

[@sciguyjeff]

Shame the closed caption was so screwed up

[@vernoncrown]

The closed caption words have nothing to do with the subject matter. How did that happen?

[@GeographyGeek]

The AI can’t understand me I guess lol

[@blackboyfly6322]

🧢

[@Tyronejizz]

55th

[@tonymalony4382]

How many Amercan indians were slaughtered?

[@thomasfoss9963]

Estimates vary widely--- But, it is estimated that including So. America, up to 56 million native peoples were killed thru various European diseases, warfare, and starvation----

[@Danny-gf9cr]

This might be a dumb question, but wouldn’t they overrun the earth if left alone

[@lexpcock3521]

Ur right dumb question

[@thomasfoss9963]

Probably not--- The natural "web of life" has a way of keeping a balance between the various species--- A very bad winter will kill many bison--- Predation by wolves, and bears, who are their natural predators-- Hunting by the various plains tribes, and woodland tribes, etc

[@euclidnaboye5662]

This is probably a very good question. I think the answer you seek will be very sick. Check out how our species is doing. I think we are overrunning the earth faster than those bisons😊😊

[@Johnsonman47373]

I'm messing up the algorithm

[@dodobird9679]

Herbert

[@Johnsonman47373]

@@dodobird9679 screw herbert

[@dodobird9679]

Dodo birb

[@legemdarykill2371]

@@dodobird9679 dodo birb

[@Johnsonman47373]

@@dodobird9679 Dodo birb

[@isellcatlitter]

there were too many cars and jet airplanes in the 1600's and climate change happened, then when plastic was introduced along with COVID-19 in the early 1700's.

[@isellcatlitter]

trust the science.... I AM THE SCIENCE DR. FAUCI

[@GeographyGeek]

I’m so confused lol

[@isellcatlitter]

@@GeographyGeek millions of the American Bison died because of Starbucks Coffee Plastic Straws stuck in their nose,

[@GeographyGeek]

@@isellcatlitter Oh okay lol

[@aidangm7419]

🤣

[@doegod7776]

Thanks Caucasians

[@ramzankadyrov6035]

Thousands of bills have been passed and destroyed to save face.