Big Game Animals of llic Yclhnvstunc 457 



BISON OR BUFFALO 



Bison bison (Linnaeus) 



The safety point in the campaign to save the Ijuffalo from exter- 

 mination has long since been passed, and today these animals are 

 almost as easily reared and managed as domestic cattle (fig. 101). 

 The so-called tame herd of the Yellowstone, now numbering over 

 600 head, is increasing rapidly. There appears to be practically no 

 disease among these bison at present, although several years ago an 

 epidemic broke out which killed a number of the animals. This was 

 diagnosed as hemorrhagic septicemia, a recurrent malady sometimes 

 mistaken for " blackleg," and the calves are now vaccinated annually 

 against the disease. Bison are apparently immune to the "blackleg" 

 of cattle. 



The buffaloes are very hardy and endure the severe winters of 

 Yellowstone Park without loss from exposure and freezing. Nearly 

 all of the cows breed annually and the death rate among the calves 

 is low. Therefore, it may eventually become a problem as to what 

 to do with the increase of the "tame herd," although the other 

 National Parks and National Forests within the natural range of 

 the species should harbor a considerable number to advantage. 

 Many state game preserves and parks also will no doubt afford suit- 

 able range for bands of buffalo. Such areas should take care of the 

 surplus breeding stock for many years. Zoological parks, on the 

 other hand, are well stocked and require very few additional bison. 

 The maintaining of private herds by wealthy stockmen has received 

 a setback recently, owing to the considerable expense involved. If 

 the ranger force were allowed to use the surplus male buffaloes in 

 the form of beef it might be good economy; but this would be 

 attended by grave risks, and would set a dangerous precedent. Under 

 the present regulations of the Park none of its animals can be 

 killed for food. The castration of excess bulls has been resorted 

 to, but this of course does not reduce the number of calves born. 

 It has proved very unsatisfactory, moreover, because the altered 

 animals are inclined to fight the cows and otherwise act abnormally 

 toward their fellows. They are merely disturbers and the herd 

 wouM be better off without them. Considering the small number 

 of bison now existing in the country, it wou^d seem a safer pro- 

 cedure to disperse any surplus from the Yellowstone herd to other 

 localities in their natural range, rather than destroy them. The 

 sudden outbreak of disease in the winter of 1918, destroying thirty- 



