National Bison Day

In 1886, the U.S. government sent the scientist William Hornaday to Montana to kill a few bison.

Once numbering in the tens of millions in North America, by 1886 fewer than 1,000 bison were left, and it was assumed that bison were going extinct.

Hornaday’s directive was to head to Montana — where some bison still existed — kill a few — and then bring them back to DC to display them in the National Museum so future generations could see this animal that once roamed North America.

Let that sink in for a moment.

The largest animal in North America — this iconic, one-of-a-kind species — was pushed right to the edge of the cliff of extinction, and it was assumed that it was going to go over the cliff — that bison would go extinct.

But the bison survived.

And saving it gave birth to the American conservation movement.

Today, bison in North America number somewhere around 500,000.

Drastically below their historic numbers, but they’re still here — enduring, existing.

And in 2016 they officially became America’s national mammal, and the first Saturday in November is now National Bison Day.

We are humbled — and damn proud — to be part of the bison restoration story in North America.

And make no mistake — you are part of it too.

By supporting North Bridger Bison — buying a quarter of bison meat, purchasing an NBB hat, forwarding our newsletter or a blog post to a friend — you’re part of this restoration story along with us.

So here’s to bison — the survivor — and to all of you, The NBB Nation.

The chapters of the bison story in North America are still being written, and we are grateful you’re on this journey with us.

Happy National Bison Day.

Onward.

— Matt, Sarah, Otto, and Greta