the grasslands. Bison helped us regenerate the land,” Mimi Hillenbrand, owner and operator of the 777 Bison Ranch near Rapid City, South Dakota told me. She adds, “I love the animal. We are lucky that we brought them back. I learn every day from them.” THINKING BIGGER Will bison live on in relatively small, isolated herds as they do now, or something greater? The American Prairie Reserve, a Montana- based nonprofit, has a big and controversial idea: creating an ecologically functioning 3 million acre preserve of private, public and tribal lands in northeast Montana, with a herd of over 10,000 bison – the largest single population in the world. Although this would be small compared to the millions that once existed, it still would be something to see. Bison were saved through the combined efforts of conservationists, scientists, ranchers and ultimately the general public. As their comeback continues, I believe that they can teach us how to be better stewards of the land and provide a future for the Plains where ecosystems and human cultures thrive. Originally published at The Conversation. MatthewMoran is Professor of Biology at Hendrix College in Arkansas. He has received research funding from the National Science Foundation, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,
birds and insects in tallgrass prairies. Bison also affect their environment by wallowing – rolling on the ground repeatedly to avoid biting insects and shed loose fur. This creates long-lasting depressions that further enhance plant and insect diversity, because they are good habitats for plant and animal species that are not found in open areas of the prairie. In contrast, cattle do not wallow, so they do not provide these benefits. It is hard to determine the ecological role that bison played before North America was settled by Europeans, but available evidence suggests they may have been the most impactful animal on the Plains – potentially a keystone species whose presence played a unique and crucial role in the ecology of prairies. The return of the bison has generated a new industry on the Plains. The National Bison Association promotes these animals as long- lived, hardy and high-quality livestock. The group hopes to double bison numbers through its Bison 1 Million commitment, a program designed to increase interest in bison ranching and consumption. Advocates cite health, ecological and ethical arguments in support of bison ranching. Bison meat is lean and has a high protein content. Many bison ranchers are committed to ethical and sustainable ranching practices, which sometimes are lacking in modern industrial livestock farming. “I have a love of nature and want to protect it. It was one of my family’s goals to restore THE GROWTH OF BISON RANCHING
the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, and the Arkansas
Department of Higher Education, as well his employer, Hendrix College. He is also a volunteer fundraiser for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest based in Costa Rica.
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