Indigenous tribes are leading the effort to bring back the bison — a victory not only for the sake of biodiversity, but for the entire ecosystem they nurture.
Miles of prairie stretched out across the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in southern Oklahoma, acre after acre of brush, grasses and hearty vegetation creeping toward the low-range granite mountains rising in the distance. Like in much of Oklahoma, the road is flat here, but the speed limit remains 30 mph. That’s because of the bison.
Tribes are leading the effort to bring back the bison, Heinert says, which in turn allows for the return of other native grasses, animals and insects — all of which will “help fight this changing climate.”Bison, called buffalo by some Indigenous peoples, are mammoth creatures. Weighing up to 2,000 pounds, they are the largest land mammal in North America. Their giant horned heads balance on hulking sloped shoulders.
Indigenous peoples have been integral to this effort from the start, both by managing herds and by introducing legislation to protect and expand bison territory. In the past few decades, tribal herd numbers have soared: The InterTribal Buffalo Council, which began as a modest coalition of fewer than 10 tribes in the early 1990s, will soon count 76 tribes across 20 states from New York to Hawaii among its members, managing a total of more than 20,000 animals across 32 million acres.
While bison produce methane much like cattle, their grazing patterns and the fact that they are wild animals that usually roam hundreds, if not thousands, of acres means that bison are generally far less destructive to the environment than domesticated cows. Their “wallows” — huge depressions created by bison’s rolling on the ground — can serve as microhabitats for other animals. After strong rains, those wallows fill with water and welcome insects, frogs and other amphibians, according to McDonald. In one poignant example of a once nearly extinct animal supporting a threatened species, bison’s wallows serve as an ideal habitat for bird’s-foot violets, the preferred food source for the larva of regal fritillary, a rare butterfly.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Did Eric Clapton Once Unleash a Racist Rant Onstage?✅ True. At a concert in 1976, Eric Clapton went on a racist rant, using offensive racial slurs and calling for the deportation of non-whites from Britain.
Weiterlesen »
Once vilified, ARMs tripling in popularity - KRLD News
Weiterlesen »
Why Cargo Jeans Are Once Again Part of the ZeitgeistWith their effortlessly slouchy fit and useful design details (read: pockets), it’s no wonder cargo jeans are back in style. Shop 18 of our favorite pairs here.
Weiterlesen »
Phenomenal sunset boasts red sky, lightning and rainbows — all at oncePhotos of a magnificent Washington, D.C.-area sunset and lightning that followed.
Weiterlesen »
Zendaya Makes Emmy History Once Again as Youngest Producing Nominee for 'Euphoria'Zendaya is not only the youngest producing nominee ever, but she’s also the first Black woman to receive both songwriting and acting nods in the same year
Weiterlesen »
Happy Amazon Prime Day: What Once Was Free Now Has a FeeTwenty-seven cents here, twenty-seven cents there...soon you're talking real money!
Weiterlesen »