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daaron

(763 posts)

20. It was Manifest Destiny. Hunters, period.

Sat Jun 2, 2012, 10:14 PM

Jun 2012

According to WikiPedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_bison):

Bison were hunted almost to extinction in the late 19th century primarily by market hunters and were reduced to a few hundred by the mid-1880s. They were hunted for their skins, with the rest of the animal left behind to decay on the ground.

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When did the American buffalo disappear and become bison? [View all] Kablooie Jun 2012 OP

It's a taxonomic thing Scootaloo Jun 2012 #1

+ Infinity...because this is the best explanation ever. vaberella Jun 2012 #12

I looked it up. Now I have to look up auroch. rug Jun 2012 #32

That word... Xyzse Jun 2012 #33

Screw it. I'm just going to start referring to Romney as that lare ox-like thing. rug Jun 2012 #34

It's also the scientific name... GoCubsGo Jun 2012 #14

I was amazed when I learned that Europe has their own bison species. Odin2005 Jun 2012 #18

I've seen the European bison at a preserve over there RZM Jun 2012 #19

Well-loved... Sure Scootaloo Jun 2012 #24

Well, water buffalo are native to Asia Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #2

The buffalo got all politically correct. cthulu2016 Jun 2012 #3

If all that is factual, it's probably the most interesting thing I've ever read on DU Egalitariat Jun 2012 #4

Check this out. A very good read. Monk06 Jun 2012 #7

and also, 1491: New Revelations in America Before Columbus Viva_La_Revolution Jun 2012 #9

They were called buffalo, but were never buffalo... joeybee12 Jun 2012 #5

I still call them buffalo - but I buy bison at the store. Nt xchrom Jun 2012 #6

I've found that elk makes better burgers slackmaster Jun 2012 #11

Agree - elk is very good. I have shop on line xchrom Jun 2012 #15

i made bison\beef mealoaf last week.. delish. dionysus Jun 2012 #31

their still buffalo in SD newfie11 Jun 2012 #8

+1 Go Vols Jun 2012 #40

It happened about the same time the potato famine completely wiped out the species slackmaster Jun 2012 #10

Huh? The potato species has never been threatened with extinction NickB79 Jun 2012 #21

Actually, it was just one species in Ireland Scootaloo Jun 2012 #25

As an avid gardener, thank you for that information NickB79 Jun 2012 #27

Species vs. variety L. Coyote Jun 2012 #38

Yup, Solanum tuberosum is the widespread cultivar species Scootaloo Jun 2012 #42

You've been taken in by one of the most elaborate shams in history slackmaster Jun 2012 #26

We're talking about basically four types of animals in this thread, no? aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2012 #13

Yes, there are 4 species in this muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #29

And the aurochs, which *was* hunted to extinction (nt) Mairead Jun 2012 #41

Don't know. Read a history of my great great aunt's brother in law. He worked in a trading post applegrove Jun 2012 #16

I'm a stickler who gets annoyed when bison are called buffalo. Odin2005 Jun 2012 #17

I am fairly sure that Buffalo is correct whistler162 Jun 2012 #28

It was Manifest Destiny. Hunters, period. daaron Jun 2012 #20

"Give me a home, where the bison roam....." Doesn't have the same ring. nt msanthrope Jun 2012 #22

So, what's all this I hear about bison wings? I didn't know bison had wings .. kwassa Jun 2012 #23

In my area they were originally called Tatanka blockhead Jun 2012 #30

Wait until you hear what happened to the brontosaurus. FSogol Jun 2012 #35

Yes, and to Pluto slackmaster Jun 2012 #36

When did the American buffalo disappear and become bison? Joseph28 Jun 2012 #37

When will the American Republican disappear and become extinct? L. Coyote Jun 2012 #39