Western senators want to name bison the "national mammal"

Leotie, a 3-year-old bison, checks out her female calf at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill on May 22, 2012. / Jim Schulz,AP Photo/Chicago Zoological Society

(AP) BILLINGS, Mont. - Western lawmakers want to elevate the Plains bison to a status similar to that of the iconic bald eagle with legislation to declare the burly beasts America's "national mammal."

Bison advocates launched a "vote bison" public relations campaign Friday to coincide with the bill.

The National Bison Legacy Act introduced in the Senate is backed by lawmakers from Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Rhode Island.

The largely symbolic measure would provide no added protections for the estimated 20,000 wild bison in North America. And the bald eagle would still hold a somewhat loftier role as the national emblem, as declared by the Second Continental Congress in 1782.

But supporters said the bison legacy bill would afford overdue recognition to a species that has sweeping cultural and ecological significance. Bison — North America's largest land animal — already appear on two state flags and the official seal of the U.S. Department of Interior.

"The North American bison is an enduring symbol of America, its people and a way of life," said Wyoming Republican Sen. Mike Ezni, chief sponsor of the bill along with South Dakota Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson.

Tens of millions of bison, also known as buffalo, once roamed most of North America. They were heavily relied on by many American Indian tribes who harvested the animals for food and materials to make clothing and shelter.

Overhunting reduced the population to about 1,000 animals by the turn of the 20th century.

That's when conservationists, including President Theodore Roosevelt, intervened to save the species from extinction. Beyond today's wild herds in places like Yellowstone National Park, there are an estimated half-million bison, including animals in commercial herds, many of which have mixed cattle genetics.

Yet resistance to free-roaming bison lingers.

In Montana, livestock producers and property rights advocates have filed lawsuits to stop the spread of an animal that ranchers say can tear down fences, spread disease and compete with domestic cattle for grass.

This week in Boulder, Colo., city officials citing cost concerns and public opposition rebuffed a proposal from Ted Turner to donate a bison herd for viewing along U.S. Highway 36.

John Calvelli with the Wildlife Conservation Society, one of the "vote bison" campaign sponsors, said the effort is meant to transcend political concerns and instead mark the animal's place in American cultural history.

"This isn't about getting into the middle of these issues of bison and property rights," he said. "No matter what political stripe you come from, we can all agree on the important role that bison have played."

Other sponsors of the campaign are the Intertribal Buffalo Council, which includes 57 tribes, and the National Bison Association.

In recent years, federal and state agencies, wildlife advocates and Indian groups have revived efforts to put wild bison on more parts of the Western landscape.

That includes the transfer in March of about 60 Yellowstone bison to northeastern Montana's Fort Peck Reservation.

The Interior Department also has been considering bison for public lands, including Badlands National Park on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.

[sunrisedrl]

It should be a horse not buffalo. I horse carried Paul Revere and another rider to announce "The British Are Coming!" A horse carried many messages during many wars. A horse carried many men in battle. Don't forget the Pony Express! Many many horses plowed fields that fed our ancestors. And all of those people that headed west to live the dream of owning a piece of land. Horses have done some much more. A horse is a very noble animal. A buffalo? It fed the Native Americans. That not anymore noble than a potato.

[lightoftheworld]

Humans are Mammals. I guess we are second rate mammals according to whoever proposed this bill. Watch out there is something sneaky going on behind the scenes. But as Jesus said: "there is nothing hid that shall not be revealed.

[fitstshu]

Ok, that should take about an hour. Now, back to work.

[texmary]

Congressmen must have a lot of time on their hands if they are thinking of renaming bison. Correct me if I am wrong, but don't we have alot of people unemployed in this Great Recession. Instead of "thinking" about new ways of helping unemployed Americans..no they would rather think about "bison". Again, correct me, if I wrong, but, I think the "the bison issue" CAN WAIT UNTIL OUR ECONOMY IS DOING BETTER FOR ALL AMERICANS.

[audemus]

It's good to know our Senators are getting all that real important work taken care of....I think they deserve a big raise.

[busterdawgggy]

I vote for the cockroach as America's national insect. We can put it on the Florida flag with the motto, "Please Tread on Me.":)

[pinetreewest]

Lighten up folks. The buffalo is it hands down. Maybe it isn't so bad to remind people what really happened to the original American natives who depended upon them. It also honors their memory. But Florida, back off. Alligator, really? The box turtle wins the reptile prize. Much friendlier a critter, unless Mitt Romney is out there showing off his 2nd amendment fantasies of critter hunting that day.

[nohater]

senators are just silly. but it's the voters who are to blame for electing them into office. too bad there isn't an easier method of recalling senators and getting them out of office.

[nor-one]

There is, it's called "term limits". Why not make the PIG the national mammel. Look at all the poster boys you've got feeding at the trough in washington??

[jackobyte]

What irony, what irony. Read history: yes the buffalo was wiped out to wipe out the natives and now suddenly it symbolizes America, what? genocide? certainly that of the buffalo!

best keep it quite ... redact the history books.

[NinthSt78]

Good idea.