American Bison

    

The American Bison is the symbol of the great plains. Vast herds migrated from Canada to Mexico. From a population that ranged in the millions, American Bison dwindled to near extinction driven by American settlers.
Fortunately, the bison population has recovered to a total of 9000 due to conservation efforts by Canadian conservationists, but they still need help to survive.
        The bison are also threatened by two main diseases. One, Tuberculosis, an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules in the tissues, especially the lungs, and Anthrax, a bacterial disease of sheep and cattle, typically affecting the skin and lungs which cause severe skin ulceration or a form of pneumonia. Both of these have become prominent in bison herds.

How to Help:

       People can help in their preservation by adopting bison on websites such as Defenders of Wildlife or by donating toward the purchase of prairie land on websites like the American Prairie Foundation.

American Bison

Photographed by Phillip Colla

Save the Wildlife

    30 to 50 percent of all species are headed toward extinction by mid-century, and 99% of all threatened species are at risk from human activity, such as destroying their habitats for our recreational desires, introducing exotic species to new and profound locations where they will not thrive, and therefore suffer, and global warming; a major contributor to those living in regions near Alaska and Canada.
    As a wildlife enthusiast, I have made an effort to divert attention toward threatened and endangered animals. I want to educate others about the endangered animals living within the North American boundaries and explain how we can help them live in peace as we do every day.

Gray Wolves

Photographed by Joel Sartore