Badlands Bison Document - PDF

**Source 2** ***Badlands Bison*** The American bison is an amazing animal only found in North America. They are often mistaken for buffalo because they are similar in shape and size. Bison are one of the largest mammals found in the Badlands National Park of South Dakota. Bison were a very import...

**Source 2** ***Badlands Bison*** The American bison is an amazing animal only found in North America. They are often mistaken for buffalo because they are similar in shape and size. Bison are one of the largest mammals found in the Badlands National Park of South Dakota. Bison were a very important resource for Native American people and were seen as a sacred animal. Native American culture respected and protected the bison by only hunting for their needs without waste. During the 19th and 20th century, the bison were close to extinction due to extreme over-hunting by European settlers. Today, the bison population has recovered after new precautions were put in place to help protect the animals.  Although they are no longer endangered, the bison are still protected by the people of South Dakota. An annual bison roundup helps to keep track of the bison population numbers. South Dakota protects bison by building fences to separate them from the dangerous nearby freeways and roads. If people want to hunt the bison, they must buy permits. The beloved bison was recognized as the official national mammal, and this was signed into law by President Obama in 2016. References "Bison." *Wikipedia*, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison. Accessed 3 Aug. 2022. "Conservation of the Badlands Bison." National Park Foundation,www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/conservation-badlands-bison. Accessed 3 Aug. 2022. Phillips, Amber. "Bison Are Our New National Mammal. Here's What You Can and Can't Do With Them." *Washington Post*, 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/10/bison-are-our-our-new-national-mammal-heres-what-you-can-and-cant-do-with-them.