Bison Came Back

Bison Came Back

Great Beasts Bison are the biggest animals in North America. They weigh up to 2, 000 pounds (907 kg)-almost half as much as a car. They can run 35 miles (56 km) per hour.

Although they are big, fast, and strong, bison almost went extinct. People nearly wiped them out by hunting too many.

People changed their ways just in time. They stopped the big hunts and protected land where bison live. Bison bounced back. Today, there are about a half million bison in North America. If you visit a place such as Yellowstone National Park, you can see them for yourself.

Millions Turns to Thousands Once, there were around thirty million bison in North America. They lived in large herds, mostly on the Great Plains.

They were an important animal for many Native American people. Not only did bison provide food, but their hides were used for clothing and shelter. Native Americans also made bison bones into tools. They used all parts of a bison. For many years, Native Americans lived along with bison. They hunted what they needed but always left enough for herds to stay big.