Bison Came Back

Bison came back written by Mike Stark focus question How has the number of bison changed over time? Why has it changed?

野牛回归 作者：迈克·斯塔克 核心问题 野牛的数量随着时间发生了怎样的变化？ 为什么会发生这些变化？

Great beasts. Bison are the biggest animals in North America. They weigh up to 2 ,000 pounds, 907 kilograms, almost half as much as a car. They can run 35 miles, 56 kilometers per hour.

了不起的巨兽。 野牛是北美体型最大的动物。 它们的体重最高可达2000磅，也就是907公斤， 差不多有半辆汽车那么重。 它们的奔跑速度可达每小时35英里，也就是56公里。

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

尽管野牛体型庞大、速度飞快、力量惊人，它们却一度濒临灭绝。 人类的过度猎杀差点让它们彻底消失。

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.

人类及时调整了自己的行为。 人们叫停了大规模猎杀，同时保护野牛栖息的土地。 野牛的数量开始回升。 如今，北美大约有50万头野牛。 如果你去黄石国家公园这类地方游玩， 你就能亲眼见到它们。

Millions turns to thousands. Once, there were around 30 million bison in North America. They lived in large herds, mostly on the Great Plains.

从数百万骤减至数千头。 曾经，北美大约有3000万头野牛。 它们结成大群生活，大多栖息在大平原地区。

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.

对许多印第安人来说，野牛是非常重要的动物。 野牛不仅能提供食物，它们的皮毛还可以用来做衣服和搭建居所。 印第安人还会把野牛的骨头做成工具， 野牛的每个部位都不会被浪费。 多年来，印第安人和野牛共同生活，他们只猎取自己需要的数量， 总会留下足够的野牛，让种群规模保持稳定。